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Early 

Pioneer Days 

in Texas 




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By J.Taylor Allen 



jUDEXtU, i 



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COPYRIGHT, 1918 

BY 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN 



printed by 

Wilkinson Printing Co. 

dallas, texas 







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Dedicated to the 

Memory of Our Pioneer 

Fathers and Mothers 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

Page 
Early Times in Texas 1 

CHAPTER II. 

Indian Songs and Dances 25 

CHAPTER III. 
Hunting in the Early Days 29 

CHAPTER IV. 
Ten Years a Cowboy in the Wild West 37 

CHAPTER V. 

Biographical Sketch and History of My 
Father, W. B. Allen, as Told by Himself 47 

CHAPTER VI. 
John Taylor Allen 73 

CHAPTER VII. 
Lem Ramsey 83 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Jacob Ramsey 86 

CHAPTER IX. 
J. E. Deupree 88 

CHAPTER X, 
Dr. John Cunningham 94 



CHAPTER XI. 

Page 

Capt. A. J. Nicholson 102 

CHAPTER XII. 
Joe Spence 109 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Wm. Spence 117 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Capt. Shelton 122 

CHAPTER XV. 
C. C. Yoakum 133 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Capt. W. Underwood 136 

CHAPTER XVII. 
Pioneer James Baker 137 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
Tribute and Eulogy to Uncle John Jones 140 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Mrs. N. C. Jones 143 

CHAPTER XX. 
Honey Grove - 146 

CHAPTER XXI. 
To My Children and Relatives 148 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Tribute and Eulogy to the Good Ladies and 
Beautiful Flowers 151 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Page 
Our Soldier Boys 154 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
The Religion of Today 156 

CHAPTER XXV. 
For Speedy Reformation 158 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
To Our Friends and Loved Ones in Heaven 161 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
To Our Soldier Boys and Many Relatives 163 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 
The College Dude 165 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
To Our Many Friends and Relatives 170 

CHAPTER XXX. 
Christian Unity 171 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
Better Than Bonds or Gold 176 

CHAPTER XXXII. 
Some Reminiscences of Early Pioneer Days 178 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 
History Repeats Itself 180 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 
The Greatest Good to the Greatest Number 182 

CHAPTER XXXV. 
War Clouds 183 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 
Selected Poems and Contributions by J. Tay- 
lor Allen and Others 185 



ERRATA 



J. Taylor Allen was born October 29, 1848, in- 
stead of 1840. 

On page 146, in the write-up of Honey Grove, 
line 21 should read: the city of Honey Grove 
shipped, instead of Bonham shipped. 

In the write-up of C. C. Yoakum, the author de- 
sires to mention that he was often with him in 
his last days and conversed with him freely as to 
his future hope. Mr. Yoakum said he had been a 
very wicked man. The author told him our Sa- 
vior came not to call the righteous, but sinners to 
repentance, and that there is more joy in Heaven 
over one sinner than the ninety and nine that went 
not astray. That all that was required was true 
repentance, and faith in the atoning blood of Je- 
sus. He said he was sorry for his sins and would 
trust in Jesus. Thus Mr. Yoakum became recon- 
ciled. We shall meet him with the redeemed in 
the home beyond., where no sin, sickness or death 
ever enters. J. TAYLOR ALLEN, 

Author and Compiler. 



CHAPTER I. 



EARLY TIMES IN TEXAS. 

Friends, early pioneers and settlers and a few 
remaining schoolmates of our log cabin school 
days: I write these lines in commemoration of 
the days of long ago ; the days that were spent in 
preparation for the glorious results which have 
come to Texas and her people. The younger gen- 
eration cannot know nor understand the dangers, 
nor the inconveniences, that beset us in the early 
days; neither can they comprehend how tedious 
was the slow and labored journeys we had to 
make to go from place to place. Now it is an easy 
task to travel two or three hundred miles a day, 
and at little cost, but in those days when we had 
to pick our way through vast country expanses 
and find our road the best we could as we went 
along, it was a tedious and expensive journey, 
both because of expenditure of energy and of 
means as well. 

I have thought it would be a benefit to humani- 
ty, a testimony to the self-sacrifice of the fathers, 
and a monument to the virtues and bravery of 
those noble men who blazed the trail to make 
Texas habitable, to record some of the early ex- 
periences, episodes and primitive modes of life in 
the early days of Texas. 

When my father left old Tennessee to come to 
Texas, it wasn't in one of those wagons that run 
smoothly along the road, with springs to take 



2 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

away the jar off the bed, but one of those old- 
fashioned kind that jerked and jolted at every 
step the oxen took. That was the kind that 
brought the families out here. Nor were there 
so many of them that the dangers and loneliness 
was removed. Prairie schooners were as scarce 
then as the ships on the open sea, and every out- 
fit had to carry enough grub and camping equip- 
ment to keep them until they could locate in the 
country to which they hoped to make their home. 
Along the line of their journey there were no 
stores, nor stations, where they could stop and 
stock up and what little they could get to eat or 
drink they had to depend on what they had with 
them, augmented with what they could pick up on 
their way. Just a few miles a day is all they 
could hope to make with their patient ox teams, 
and it was then considered a long journey to 
travel what we can now do on the train in a few 
hours. 

Of course, all the pioneers didn't come in ox 
wagons. Some of them came with a pack on 
horseback; some only had a blanket, a pot and a 
skillet, a sack of flour and a little salt, coffee and 
bacon, depending on the game they could kill for 
food. Lying down on the ground wrapped only 
in a blanket when they were ready to sleep. Those 
who had wagons, usually carried camp outfits 
with them and would pitch their tents for the 
women and children. 

The way was beset with countless difficulties, 
such as fording creeks and rivers, making their 
way through brush and briar and timber and un- 



EARLY PIONEER PAYS IN TEXAS 3 

inhabited country and the ever present dangers 
from the marauding, thieving and treacherous 
Indian. It can be said for the Indian that he was 
always watching to rob the defenseless pioneer 
and he would lie in wait to surround and capture 
the weaker camps and steal their belongings, or, 
if in larger numbers would catch the campers un- 
awares, kill the men and rob them of their horses 
and cattle and carry off captives their women and 
children. If some of the sticks and stones on 
Texas prairies could testify to the things the In- 
dians did in the early days it would make one's 
blood boil with indigation, and while I shall try 
to tell some of the experiences under my personal 
observation I cannot begin to tell any fractional 
part of the horrors and atrocities that were per- 
petrated on the brave and hardy settlers who first 
came to habitate on this noble land of ours, this, 
the Lone Star State of Texas. 

Our first houses were on the old original primi- 
tive style — pole cabins with the cracks chinked 
with split out timber, daubed with clay, mortar, 
and sometimes boards pinned on same with wood- 
en pins — there being no nails then — covered with 
boards held securely in place by weight poles. 
Clap board doors hung on wooden hinges, the old 
string latch, the string of which always hung on 
the outside, which was always free and more 
than welcome for anybody to enter and partake 
of the generosity and hospitality of the inmates. 
The chimneys were of sticks and dirt; wide fire 
places, around which encounters of brave, dan- 
gerous, heroic, daring deeds were rehearsed. 



4 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

where anecdotes were told and the latest news 
from home rehearsed, or where some traveler 
stopped to tell of the happenings in some distant 
part of interest, the happy group would sit around 
eager to hear it. Good, hearty meals were always 
enjoyed. The houses had split out puncheon 
floors when there were any kind at all. Stools on 
which were placed dressed buffalo robes or bear 
skins constituted the seats. The tableware and 
cooking utensils consisted of a coffee pot, frying 
pan, old-fashioned ovens, skillet and lids, and in 
the absence of these the old time hoecake and ash- 
cakes were baked around the fire. Gourds or tin 
cups were used to drink out of wooden pails ; and 
when there were not bowie knives and wooden 
forks to use they generously sopped the pan and 
feasted and fared sumptuously by using nature's 
own wild production. Bedsteads were made in 
one corner of the cabin by placing the ends of two 
poles in large augur holes in the poles of the wall 
and the other ends in one upright pole log, and 
narrow strips of rawhide corded across and on 
this were placed dressed skins of buffalo, bear or 
deer skins with the hair left on. When they did 
not have this kind they slept on buffalo robes or 
bear skins on the floor. 

They used sleds drawn by oxen until they could 
make their old-time native wagons. The war 
whoop of the Indian, screams of the panthers, and 
howling of wolves on every side was heard. The 
clothing consisted of dressed deer skin, hunting 
shirt, pants, vest, leggins, moccasins and coon skin 
cap. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 5 

Later on more substantial hewed log cabins and 
other and better necessaries and conveniences 
were used. Progress upward and onward with 
enterprise has ever characterized our Texas peo- 
ple. Our first plows were rudely constructed, be- 
ing made of scraps and bits of iron with a good 
portion of wood to complete. Our harness for 
horses was rawhide, and yokes and log chains for 
oxen. Grass of the finest quality, also an abund- 
ance of cane, was the only thing necessary for the 
stock after being worked or used in any way. Our 
good women, without which our big world would 
be a blank and a failure, were always first and 
foremost in every good deed and act. When she 
steered the craft, progress was rapid and sure; 
the hum of the spinning wheel, the bang, bang of 
the loom, the old-time carding, warping, reeling 
and coloring of the good old-time cloth ; the wash- 
ing, ironing, mending, housekeeping, milking, 
churning and thousands of other things too nu- 
merous to mention — hardships and dangers en- 
dured that this, our glorious and grand Lone Star 
Texas homeland State might be settled and devel- 
oped by the progressive, the true, the enterpris- 
ing and the brave. All these and more should be 
commemorated and ever be as a memorial unto 
her who has ever proved faithful and true. God 
bless the women. Our Texas would never have 
attained to what it has had it not been for them. 

A pioneer family by the name of Yeary settled 
south of where Honey Grove is now located. The 
family was composed of the old man, a grown 
daughter and two small children, and they had a 



6 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

good, faithful old negro man. They broke a small 
patch of ground with oxen, fenced it with old- 
fashioned fence made with rails on one side and 
good brush fence on the other side. The patch 
was right on the edge of the famous Journigan 
thicket, a dense tangle of briars, vines and brush 
thorns. In this brush innumerable wild animals, 
like panthers, bears, wild cats, wolves, etc., and 
an abundance of game, made their nests there. 

Old man Yeary built him a log cabin with the 
assistance of his negro servant and roofed it with 
split boards held in place by heavy poles. In those 
days there were no nails. For bedding, dressed 
hides of buffalo, bears, deers, panthers and wolves 
were used. Stools were used for chairs and the 
cooking utensils consisted of skillets and frying 
pans ; gourds were used for dippers and pails for 
carrying water were home-made. Even their 
clothing was made at home, usually from the hides 
of animals, and sometimes cloth was sent in from 
the East. 

While hoeing the corn one day they were start- 
led by the frequency of what sounded like gobbling 
turkeys and hooting owls ; it became so noticeable 
that the negro became alarmed and fearing the 
approach of the wily treachery of the Indians, he 
urged the old man to retreat to the cabin. The old 
man told him to keep on hoeing the corn, himself 
believing the sounds were from the gobblers and 
owls, but as they reached the end of the row, near 
to the thicket, a blood-curdling yell of the treach- 
erous Indian warned them, and the savages rushed 
on them, and shot their arrows at these two de- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 7 

fenseless men, many of the arrows penetrating the 
bodies of Yeary and his faithful darky. Yeary 
was not dead, but he lay as though he was, play- 
ing possum to deceive the Indians. The old darkey, 
before he fell, said : "Massa, I done made one In- 
jun wall his eye." He had crushed an Indian's skull 
in a hand-to-hand battle with his eye-hoe. The 
Indians pounced on their bodies, and one big In- 
dian cut a scalp, running his knife rapidly around 
and putting his foot on Yeary's head, gave it a 
jerk, and took a piece of scalp about as big as a 
silver dollar. 

Seeing the woman and children passing the 
woodpile, they ran yelling toward the house. The 
woman picked up an ax as she ran toward the 
house and closed the door in time to escape. The 
Indians battered at the door, and when they put 
their heads in the door she chopped off the head, 
and two of them were beheaded. 

The savages finally withdrew with two of their 
number killed, and the woman went and dragged 
the old man into the house, cut the arrows out of 
his body, dressed his wounds, and he finally re- 
covered, but the old man was the worst scared 
man, father said, he ever saw. The negro was 
killed. 

On another occasion, near this same place, there 
were two families, if my memory serves me right, 
one of them was named Cameron, the other I 
have forgotten. These families camped for a 
while, but finally built a strong log cabin with loop 
holes to place their guns if they should be at- 



8 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

tacked by the Indians. Around the house they 
built a high, strong fence as an added protection. 
The women, one day, seeing the approach of tl>e 
blood-thirsty Indians, rushed to their husbands, 
who were herding a small bunch of horses and 
cattle a short distance from their rudely con- 
structed fort, but the Indians were on them, and 
a short, fierce battle ensued. The men were killed 
and scalped. Several of the Indians were killed. 
The women had, in the meantime, reached the 
fort, and after slaying the men, the Indians made 
a rush for the fort to kill the women and chil- 
dren. The women were good shots, and the In- 
dians were disappointed, for as they scaled the 
fence the women, with determined and steady aim, 
killed the Indians one by one, as they got over the 
fence, until the Indians, finding they had a dan- 
gerous task, hastened from the scene of danger. 

The poor, disconsolate widows, after the retire- 
ment of the savages, were bewildered and borne 
down by sorrow, but their bereavement increased 
when they heard the howling and screaming of the 
wild animals approaching towards where the 
bodies of the fathers and husbands lay dead, in 
their scent for flesh and blood. Says one of the 
women to the other: "I will take my two chil- 
dren and defend the bodies while you go up the 
bed of Bois d'Arc Creek until you come to the trail 
made in crossing the creek, then follow this trail 
until you reach Throgmorton's, our only neighbor. 
Tell them of our disaster and ask them to come 
and help us." Each woman took the part thus 
arranged, and as the woman followed the trail she 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 9 

was attacked by the bear dogs of Throgmorton, 
who rushed toward the woman with great fury. 
The brave Httle woman, in her fright, climbed a 
tree to get out of reach of the vicious dogs, and 
remained there till the old man, hearing the noise, 
grabbed his gun and calling his boys, anticipated 
what he thought was the approach of the Indians, 
and cautiously crept to where the dogs were bark- 
ing. Soon they heard the cry of the woman, and 
fearing the Indians had captured a woman, they 
hastened to where she was, and seeing her in the 
tree, asked her why she was there. She related 
the experience of the night before, and begged 
him to come and help them. Of course, the old 
man told her that his life, and the lives of his sons, 
would be given to protect them if necessary, and 
urged her to go and stay with his folks until they 
could go and help her friends, but she said, "No, 
ril go with you and help my dear friend and chil- 
dren to bury the bodies of our dead husbands." 

When they arrived at the desolate homestead, 
they found the bodies of the men laying in their 
own blood, and the lonely, brave woman and little 
children standing guard over the bodies, keeping 
off the hungry animals with her apron in hand. 
The bodies of the dead men were wrapped in 
sheets and buried in a deep grave near the fort, to 
sleep until the resurrection morn. History does 
not record braver nor more heroic deeds, nor 
greater sacrifices, than does the deeds and sacri- 
fices of the pioneers of the men and women who 
first settled Texas. 

There was a family of hard-working, indus- 



10 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

trious people came to Texas when school houses 
were very few and far between. They had been 
used to hardships and came prepared to forego 
the disadvantages and the dangers and inconven- 
iences of pioneer days, to build a home and settle 
a country where Indians roved in wild and blood- 
thirsty pusuit of greed and gain — using treach- 
ery, subtlety and cunning in their murderous pur- 
suit of the defenseless, and scalping and kilhng 
men, women and children. 

This family built a little log cabin and had a 
few head of horses and cattle and two bright little 
tow-headed boys who were the delight of their 
parents — whose childhood days were spent in ig- 
norance of the dangers that confronts the pio- 
neer in a territory infested by the blood-thirsty 
savage. My father says the family's name was 
Cox, and one night the war-whoops of the Indians 
went abroad and the homes of the settlers were 
set on fire, their cattle stolen and the defenseless 
women and children killed and scalped or stolen. 
These two boys of the Cox family were taken in 
one of these raids and carried away by the Indians 
when they were mere children. The anguish of 
the parents cannot be expressed in words. Search- 
ing parties were organized to go after them. My 
father was one of this party and he has told me of 
many experiences he had in his dealings with the 
savages. Many of his brave comrades were forced 
to kill Indians and fight many a fierce battle, both 
by day and by night, and often were the struggles 
a life and death occasion. The sneaking Indians 
would crawl and skulk around the camps and try 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 11 

to steal the horses that were lariated where they 
could eat the nutritious grasses, almost under the 
white man's eyes. On one occasion at Old Warren, 
on Red River, two of the party were on guard, 
while the remainder slept, resting from the toil 
and troubles incident to their warfare with the 
ever pestilent Indian. These two guards were 
stationed in a pecuhar position, having perched 
upon an unfinished log stable. Suddenly the bear 
dogs began a fearful barking, the horses snorted 
and neighed, and became very restless, running 
backwards and forwards in the lots, or around 
and around the post to which they were lariated. 
This was, to the minds of the two pickets, an in- 
dication of the proximity of the Indians. The two 
guards moved over on the poles that had been set 
for the loft of the stable, and in doing so, lost 
their balance, came tumbling down in one great 
crash— men, guns, poles and all. Picking up their 
bruised and bleeding bodies, they rushed to their 
sleeping comrades, warning them of the Indians' 
approach, who, when awakened from their slum- 
bers, found the imprint of the moccassined feet of 
the Indians that had run for their lives from the 
places where they had intended to steal the horses. 
Father always said the only thing that saved those 
horses from being stolen was the noise of the fall- 
ing roof and men on the stable. 

Four years elapsed before the Cox boys were 
found and returned to their parents. They were 
bought from the Indians by a government agent 
in trading, and restored to their home. The par- 
ents rejoiced exceedingly, but not for long, for 



12 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

when they found the dead restored to life, imagine 
if you can the bitterness of feehng to find that 
their boys had adopted the savage life and pre- 
ferred to cast their lot with the Indians. So the 
boys ran away and joined with the savages and 
never returned again. They were better suited 
with the savage hfe than the life of the pioneer 
and settler. 

The early settlers used to gather round the 
camp fires, and it was always in order to tell tales 
of Indian fighters and fighters of wild animals. 
Sometimes some of the party would rehearse their 
own experiences of previous danger and hard- 
ships. In one of these gatherings a trial was held. 
Some vicious wolves had chewed the rawhide 
lariats that held the horses and had driven the 
horses away. The charge was made that the 
wolves had been trained by the Indians to sever 
the lariat so the Indians could capture the horses, 
as they came where they were secretly hidden 
from the much feared white man. The judge and 
jury, after hearing the case, agreed that it was 
true that the Indians had trained the wolves to 
gnaw the lariat so they could steal the white 
man's horses. The finding of the court was that 
not only did the Indians feloniously engage the 
wolf to aid them, but rewarded the wolves with 
generous supplies of fresh bear, buffalo and deer 
meat, and thus making an ally for Heap Big Scalp 
Taker Indian. Thus did the treacherous Indians 
to the white man in the early days. 

Times have changed since then. No longer does 
the wily savage live off the toil of the brawny arm 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 13 

of the cultivator and home builder, nor is his ally 
the wolf permitted to roam abroad a menace to the 
home and faithful heart that helped to build the 
home and prepare the ground so it may be fruit- 
ful, but in its stead I fear there are some other 
enemies in the land where our forefather's blood 
was spilled that coming generations may have 
peace and comfort. These enemies do not slay de- 
fenseless women and children, or unarmed men, 
by stealth and cunning, nor take their scalps as 
did the treacherous Indians, but, does not some of 
the heartless gambling exchanges, with their 
trained wolves, go forth seeking to devour the toil- 
ing millions of hard working men, women and 
children by crowding the prices high on what 
they buy, and lessening the value of what the la- 
bor produces ? Is not our civilization a farce when 
these enemies price and sell a million more bales 
of cotton than the world produces, living off 
profits that never exist, while the producer ekes 
out a mere existence, unappreciated and un- 
thanked ? 

In this scene of plutocratic, aristocratic, graft- 
ing oppression the Son of Man will come again — 
He who scourged the money changers; He will 
bring to account the men who make money their 
god. The rich man who has gained by ill-gotten 
ways, will realize too late the utter folly of in- 
dulgences in avaricious extortion from the hard- 
earned toiler, and will, like the rich man being in 
torment, long for the comfort of the drop of water 
and the opportunity of warning those dear to him 
deluded with the view that success and honor 
comes in gain and wealth. 



14 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

I call to mind an old man and his wife, who, by 
rigid economy and self-sacrfice and thrift, accum- 
ulated means enough to send one of their boys to 
college. The boy was glad to be free from what 
he considered the drudgery of clearing new 
ground and building fences, digging up stumps 
and escaping the heavy burdens incident to the 
making of a home such as pioneers built in early 
days, and such as are being built by honest men 
today. This young man wanted a safe, secure and 
easy way of making his way as do so many of our 
young dudes and dudesses, who acquire an edu- 
cation usually at enormous cost of the self-sacri- 
ficing parents, failing as so many do to appreci- 
ate the privileges that have been made possible 
by these dear ones at home. After this young 
man had been at college a couple of years the folks 
at home concluded they would examine their in- 
vestment, so they hitched up the ox team and took 
a five days' journey over the rough roads to see 
their son in the closing exhibition at school, feel- 
ing sure he would be pleased to show them what 
he could do and be glad to welcome them after all 
they had done for him. When they camped and 
visited him in the college ground, imagine their 
feelings when he scorned his folks — his own 
mother and father, his own brothers and sisters 
— turning to his college chums and professors, 
declaring he did not know them. 

The poor old father was a very practical man, 
and did not propose to return on his long journey 
home without first having an understanding; so 
he said to the mother, and other children: Fol- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 15 

low me. The family marched into the hallway, 
and when the bell resounded for the gathering of 
the classes, and the young man came in, they 
all with one accord proceeded to give him such 
a trouncing as he deserved. Of course there was 
a scene, and the father was arrested, fined and 
forced to make a mortgage to pay it, but the 
young man was tamed and ready to return to the 
family home and take up his duties with humility ; 
.ready to do his share of the work, and properly 
considered what he owed to those who were of 
his own blood. 

In the early pioneer days, when rawhide and 
hickory switches were used — in those days there 
were no wires — to tie wagon beds, harness and 
plows together, many a time I have gone, when 
a small boy, with father into the woods where 
we had several hundred, long snouted, long 
tusked, back windsplitter hogs and he would 
catch the young pigs to mark them where the old 
mamma sow had left them in their snug little 
beds in the high cane brakes on leaves and grass. 
The little pigs would squeal, and you should see 
the rush of the vicious herd of swine as they 
would come in defense of their litter. In order to 
escape from them we were often compelled to 
climb a tree or use some decoy or strategy to in- 
duce them away so they would do us no injury. 
Many of our dogs have been killed and mutilated 
in rounding up hogs by their long tusks; even 
panthers, bears, wolves and wild-cats have been 
whipped by the'se hogs. When father wanted to 
kill one of these fat hogs for the family and the 



16 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

negroes — we had quite a number of negroes — he 
would catch the hog when he was apart from the 
herd with a twisted hickory withe, tie in cut 
place in hog's snout, and then to our old horse, 
Selim's tail, and tell me to hit Old Selim, and the 
horse would drag the hog by his tail without any 
apparent inconvenience or injury to the faithful 
old family horse. The hogs kept fat in those 
days, as there was always plenty of persimmons, 
hawes, grapes, pecans, hickory-nuts, walnuts, etc. 
There was no scarcity of hog meat, lard and 
pknty of venison, turkey, bear, buffalo, beef, mut- 
ton and goat meat and prairie chicken, quail and 
fish ; also plenty of wild honey. We used to make 
candles from tallow and beeswax in the winter 
from which we got our lights. Our beef hides 
were tanned at the Red Oak Bark Ooze Tan Yards 
of Uncle Farrow Medlin. We made our shoes 
from the leather tanned by Mr. Green, and the 
leather was also used for making harness and 
bridles. 

Our mothers and sisters learned to card, spin 
and weave. The fleece from the sheep and the 
homespun cloth would wear and keep us warm 
under all conditions. We did not have the fash- 
ions of the day, but it was the fine wool from the 
sheep woven, spun and carded by the hands of 
true and noble womanhood — mothers and sisters 
of men whose lives have made the world better 
for their living, and whose sacrifices and labors 
have left a heritage that gold cannot buy, nor 
could it have been obtained in any other way. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 17 

Father's first plow was made on the bull tongue 
shovel order — at least a dozen pieces of scrap- 
iron, old horse shoes and wagon bed irons were 
used to make it, and the plow stock was chopped 
by hand, as well as the double and single-trees, 
from felled trees. Before we had our tanneries 
we used to make our harness and lariat ropes and 
halters out of rawhide and hickory withes, and 
rawhide strips were used to hold the wagon beds 
and plows together. We had no wire then, and 
had to invent a way to fasten things together 
with an easier acquired tie. The virgin soil of 
the prairies yielded to the magic touch of the 
plow drawn by the patient oxen, and in time the 
corn sprang up and fed the family and later, 
enough abundance for the cattle. 

On a damp, cold night in the early part of the 
year — it was a night of fog — a band of redskins 
crept slowly over the wet prairies. They did not 
walk with even stride like men, but followed like 
a shrunken shadow brooding over a dark and dis- 
mal swamp. It was significant. They were 
hunched of shoulder, heavy legged. They were 
alive, but did not want to appear so. They were 
after the white man's horses and the white man's 
cattle, and would willingly kill the white man and 
his women and children if he could steal what 
the white man had. The love of life was only 
for themselves, and a wild beast was more to 
them than was the life of the brave men and 
women who came to develop a barren waste and 
build homes and enterprises that would leave 
posterity a heritage to be proud of. The Indian 



18 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

wanted to destroy; the white man came to build. 

The watchful bear dogs were the first to scent 
the encroaching redskins and set up a howl that 
warned the camp of settlers. The Indians paid 
no heed to the howling dogs, but answered in 
many places with sounds like hooting owls. A 
sentry on watch heard the commotion of the dogs 
and listened intently, fearful lest the Indians may 
be coming near, but all he could hear was the 
hooting of the owls. The man halted at the open- 
ing to the stockade — a protecting guard to retard 
the Indians from attack — and listened more in- 
tently. The dogs were by this time frantic, jump- 
ing in their fury and making a rush as though 
they scented wolves. The sentry was nonplussed. 
He could not see any indication of any danger, 
and could not understand why the dogs wsre so 
furious. His comrades had toiled so hard all day 
he did not want to disturb them, so he endeav- 
ored to pacify the dogs, but they would not be 
quieted. Finally he concluded he would let one 
of the dogs loose and let him go out of the stock- 
ade, thinking it was some animal prowling about 
the stockade fence. When he opened the en- 
trance to the stockade the dog rushed to the open- 
ing, but would not go outside, and when all the 
dogs were turned loose they, too, rushed to the 
opening, set up a growl and barking, but would 
not go any further. This puzzled the man on 
watch, so he hastily closed and fastened the huge 
door and proceeded to awaken the men in the 
camp, and told them of the peculiar action of the 
dogs. The men determined that it was safest to 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 19 

prepare for the worst, and so they got everything 
in readiness for a fierce battle. 

The stockade was well constructed of split logs, 
set perpendicularly with the split side on the out- 
side and standing about ten feet in height, and 
tops pointed in the shape of an inverted V. Inside 
this was braced and held in place by doweled and 
dovetailed poles, one end being buried in the 
ground, the other end holding up the fence. It 
was quite a formidable protection against the 
prowling wild beasts, as well as a defense against 
the savages. The pioneers had built loop holes, 
doubly protected at strategic places along the 
stockade for the purpose of defending themselves 
from marauding Indians. Inside the stockade was 
the corral where they kept their horses and a 
few head of cattle, sheep, poultry, dogs, etc., and 
to one side was built some two or three log cabins 
where the settlers dwelt. It had taken these 
brave, determined men a long time to build this 
little settlement, and it had been the rendezvous 
of everyone for miles around whenever there was 
danger of any Indian uprising, so that Indians 
had begun to recognize it as a great stronghold 
for the white man, and had also learned to fear 
to approach it lest they might lose their lives, for 
many an Indian had gone to the happy hunting 
grounds because he crawled too close to this fort. 

On this particular night a large band of war- 
riors had determined to attack the fort under the 
protection of darkness, expecting to come upon 
the settlers unawares, capture the horses and 
cattle, kill the men and women and burn their 



20 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

homes and stockade. When the man on watch 
aroused the sleeping men and women, and boys, 
and recited his experiences, every one became 
alert for action, ready to make the marauders, 
whatever or whoever they were, pay dearly for 
the charge on their home. In the party was an 
experienced Indian fighter, who had been in sev- 
eral campaigns against the encroachment of the 
blood-thirsty savage, and he offered to reconnoiter 
and ascertain what it was that had so frightened 
the dogs and caused such alarm. So he crept out 
of an opening at the rear of the stockade, and as 
he did so the owls began a hooting in several dif- 
ferent places surrounding the stockade. The In- 
dian fighter knew at once by these calls that the 
Indians had gathered in great numbers, and con- 
cluded that it was to be a battle to the finish. 
Hastily returning to the settlement he told them 
what his conclusions were, and they immediately 
made preparations for a siege, having a present- 
ment that the Indians meant to destroy them if 
they could. The Indian fighter urged that they 
get all the water they could in the utensils they 
had, prepared to battle against fire. The weather 
was in their favor, as the night was damp and 
foggy, and he had hopes that they would be able 
to prevent a conflagration, as he felt that if they 
could keep the stockade from being burnt down 
they would have a good chance to defend them- 
selves against the Indians. 

It was long past midnight before the Indians 
began any demonstration. The first real mani- 
festation was made by a groaning as though 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 21 

someone was in great bodily pain — a plan the 
Indians hoped would cause some of the settlers 
to come out and investigate; and in fact, one of 
the men who heard it suggested that it might be 
some poor fellow being attacked by a panther. 
The Indian fighter warned them and told them it 
was but a ruse of the Indians to get them to open 
the stockade gate so they could rush in and slay 
them. 

Finding their ruse unavailing, they then sent 
a runner up the poles to peer over, but it was so 
dark that he could not see, and finally, climbing 
over, dropped on rhe other side in the corral. In 
doing so he dropped on some sticks, and the In- 
dian fighter rushed to the place, returning in a 
few minutes with a bowie knife dripping with 
blood, remarking as he came: 'There's one less 
devil to fight." For over an hour the camp re- 
mained in absolute quiet — the women were hud- 
dled together with the children, and the men hs- 
tening with keen, open ears for any movement 
that might occur. All were praying for the day- 
light, that they might see what was going on 
about them. Suddenly one of the dogs rushed to- 
ward the stockade wall, barking furiously and 
snapping his jaws as though he had seen an ene- 
my. The Indian fighter followed closely as he 
could, just in time to see two dusky shadows 
straightening themselves up. Instantly his pis- 
tols spoke and two dead Indians lay in their tracks. 
As soon as the pistol shots were heard a score of 
arrows lit in the corral, but fortunately no one 



22 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

was hurt. "Get under cover," yelled the Indian 
fighter. Scarcely had the words escaped his lips 
when another shower of arrows fell in the corral, 
and two or three had barbs of fire. These barbs 
did no injury, however, but they lit up in their 
progress the pointed tops of the stockade posts, 
so the settlers could see the heads of peering In- 
dians, and they took advantage of this to take a 
shot at the heads above the posts. Just how 
many heads they hit was never known, for the 
Indian does not leave his dead if he can possibly 
get them away. 

Gradually the day began to dawn, and the set- 
tler could see the Indians whenever they tried 
to put their heads over, and as rapidly as they 
did, a bullet would knock it down. Several ef- 
forts were made by the Indians to set fire to the 
stockade, but these efforts were fruitless, and the 
Indians were unable to accomplish their purpose. 
Finally the settlers were able to see, the day be- 
ing well up, and they gathered in their little forts 
where they had made their port holes and picking 
out their foes, made sad havoc among them with 
their guns. The chief, a dangerous fellow, seeing 
they were at such great disadvantage, gave an or- 
der to his followers and they hastily withdrew. 
The men were for following after them, but again 
the Indian fighter warned them, and told them the 
Indians would lay in wait for them all day, and 
perhaps several days, hoping to slay them one by 
one. 

A prayer of thankfulness went up from the be- 
sieged men and women for deliverance from those 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 23 

bloodthirsty demons who had thirsted for the 
life-blood of these brave, determined men and 
women. 

The Indian fighter went out cautiously to re- 
connoiter, and returned in a little while, telling 
them the Indians had been badly beaten — several 
of their number were slain and quite a few wound- 
ed. He told also that he had found a broken 
wagon only a short distance from the stockade, 
not over a mile or a mile and a half away, and a 
white man and his wife slain, the horses and all 
his belongings stolen. The poor man's eye-balls, 
gouged from their sockets, had been turned wrong 
side out, and his ears cut off and pinned to his 
nose with sharp sticks, and a little farther away 
lay the poor woman and her babe shamefully and 
horribly mutilated. 

From the tracks of the hostile Indians there 
were some thirty who retreated, and pi-obably the 
attacking party numbered forty to fifty before the 
fight began. With thankful hearts the settlers 
gave thanks to God for deliverance from such 
hellish fiends, whose lust for gain was so intense 
that no ties of sentiment or feeling gave them 
the slightest thought of mercy — whose desire was 
only to slay, to destroy — while the noble pioneers 
sought not to destroy, but to -build and make the 
barren land blossom and give strength and health 
to the nation. Verily, God goes with the right- 
eous, and His hand will be upheld in danger. 



24 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



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EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 25 



CHAPTER II. 



INDIAN SONGS AND DANCES. 

The Indian idea of war was more logical than 
human. He carried out in cold blood the old song 
that "All's fair in love and war." As a fighter 
he had no idea of giving quarters, and, of course, 
rarely expected it, although he cunningly learned 
the tenderness of the white man's heart and his 
tendency to mercy, though he himself remained 
obdurate, vicious and unmerciful so long as he 
was in power. When the early pioneers came 
here they were always on the alert for fear of the 
wily savages, who, in hunting for game, thought 
nothing of pouncing down on settlements at an 
unguarded moment, taking away with them scalps 
of the victims fastened to their belts or bridles, 
and kept them for exhibition at certain times of 
the moon. Notwithstanding their treachery, their 
merciless slaughter of men and women, they did 
not talk of the scalps or scalping, but used high 
sounding phrases. This ghastly trophy is to them 
the "sacred hair," an offering to their gods. It 
used to be told that two boys who smoked before 
they had proved themselves men were rebuked 
by a chief and told they must go to the camps 
of the white man and bring "some bark from 
the oak" before they could call themselves brave. 
The boys innocently went and peeled the bark 
from several trees, and when they brought it to 



26 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

the chief, were greatly chagrined when they were 
told sternly to go and try again. Afterwards, 
when they helped to attack a caravan of travelers 
and brought back the "bark" from the head of 
one of the poor settlers then the boys were en- 
titled thereafter to the privilege of smoking. 

A band of Indian warriors came suddenly on 
the camp of a little settlement one night to steal 
what stock they might. There were a lot of 
horses in the corral, made of poles, whose tops 
were bound with iron-like ropes of rawhide. One 
Indian climbed quietly into the enclosure with the 
end of a rawhide lasso in his hand. He at one 
end, and a companion on the other end, sawed the 
rope back and forth till the ropes were cut; then 
several of the posts were uprooted, the horses let 
out, and off ran the thieves with their loot with- 
out arousing anyone. At daybreak the alarm was 
given, and the settlers organized and gave pursuit 
and overtook them some twenty miles away. The 
Indians resorted to their favorite tactics of sav- 
ages by circling and shooting from their horses, 
then hiding behind their horses, thereby inviting 
the white men to waste their powder ; and would 
have finally been victorious and beaten the set- 
tlers, but the settlers were too wise, and by well- 
placed firing from their guns, soon made the In- 
dians take flight. The settlers recovered their 
stolen horses, besides a few of the Indians, but 
two or three of the men lost their scalps. 

The Indian takes these scalps as trophies and 
proof of prowess, and chiefly because he believes 
that with it the valor and skill of the former pos- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 27 

sessor becomes his own. The scalp is taken by 
cutting a rough circle around the top of the skull 
and then tearing off the patch of skin and hair by 
brute force. It is a dreadful sight, never to be 
forgotten by anyone who has ever seen it. The 
scalp is cured by the one who takes it, and he 
takes great care in preparing it. Many magical 
powers are supposed to dwell in that scalp — even 
if touched either accidently or by design by a 
third person, it is supposed to transmit some of 
its virtues. 

At certain periods of the month, when the moon 
is at a point equal to their festive dancing days, 
they gather together to hold their "mad dance," 
or dance in commemoration of their victory. The 
dancers form in two lines facing each other, with 
alternate men and women. The braves, in their 
war paint and clad in their paraphernalia of war, 
each carries in his left hand a bow and in his right 
a single arrow, pointing upward. The women wear 
their trinkets and their gayest costumes, but have 
nothing in their hands. The dancers move in 
perfect rhythm to the monotone of the chanters 
and the thump of the drum. This chanting is a 
metrical account of the battle and a musical ex- 
planation of how the scalps were taken. 

When the dance is well under way one of the 
Indians, whose special duty it is to take charge of 
the scalps, brings them forward and walks slow- 
ly and solemnly up and down between the lines of 
dancers with the precious tokens of victory. At 
the conclusion of the scalp dance they finish with 



28 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

a lively dance. At the end of every phrase they 
give imitations of the war hoop, or "enemy yells." 
The whole performance is weird and disgusting, 
and usually lasts two or three nights. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 29 



CHAPTER III. 



HUNTING IN THE EARLY DAYS. 

Game of nearly every kind abounded on these 
prairies that are now tilled, and where, on nearly 
every quarter section, now holds a home of happy, 
contented families, but in those days wild Spanish 
horses, deer and buffalo, bear and panther, rac- 
coons, wolves and coyotes had full sway, and they 
roamed at will over the boundless prairies, feed- 
ing off the luxuriant native grasses that grew 
abundantly and as high as the arm-pits of a man 
in the valleys, and as high as the waist on the 
high ground. Game was so plentiful in the feath- 
ery tribes that they flocked in such numbers as 
to cloud the skies when they were in flight, and 
it was true that because of their abundance the 
farmer had great difficulty to plant his wheat, 
corn or other grains, because these birds and wild 
fowl would come and devour the seed. There were 
turkeys, geese, prairie chickens, quail and doves, 
and various and numerous other game birds and 
fowls in abundance. So plentiful that in their 
season they were common food on the table, and 
out of sheer necessity were we compelled to 
slaughter them in order that we could plant and 
grow our crops. 

Many are the times I have taken part in hunt- 
ing the wild Spanish horses, and it was an ex- 
citing experience, an experience not permitted to 



30 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

this generation to enjoy. The way it was done 
required some skill and strength and nimbleness 
of feet and hands. These horses roamed at will, 
and on the approach of men would run pell-mell, 
like the wind, away from us as soon as we would 
come near. The only way we could get anywhere 
near one was to take a rifle, and with accurate 
and steady aim, send a ball through the top of his 
neck, which sent him sprawling on the ground, 
then with quick and active exertions, reach him 
before he could get up, place a rawhide loop around 
his neck and fasten the other end around the 
stoutly rigged saddle horn. Then the fun would 
begin. With an experienced, well-mounted rider 
on a good, strong horse, the battle would not be 
a long one, but as long as it did last it was a 
strenuous one. The captured horse would rear 
and rush and snort, and as he would try to get 
away the rider would draw a tighter line. Sel- 
dom did the wild horse unseat the rider, but there 
was always danger of the wild horse throwing 
himself backwards on to the rider. Many a Span- 
ish horse has been broken and tamed to be a use- 
ful animal that looked so ferocious when first cap- 
tured that it seemed impossible to tame him, and 
the trainers who mounted these wild steeds had 
many a jolt and shock in getting them to become 
obedient to the call of man. Many a man has been 
crippled for life in the effort to master one of these 
wild, untamed horses, not so many from being 
thrown as from the rearing, jumping and somer- 
saulting of the animals themselves falling back 
on the rider and injuring him by the animal's fall. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 31 

These animals would double up in the air, then 
send their feet up almost straight, then their head 
down and their hind feet up, but so long as they 
remained on their feet, either up or down, the 
rider would hold on, and it was only when the 
horse fell backward that the danger came. 

Bears furnished exciting sport also. They did 
not show much fight so long as they were not 
molested or hunted, but the bear hunted was gen- 
erally no tame affair, and it was no boy's game 
when the real work began. Bears did not molest 
us long, nor did we have much experience hunt- 
ing them, as they moved farther West with the 
buffalo as the white man came. 

Deer were very numerous, and I have seen as 
many as 200 playing and sunning themselves in 
one bunch, where they had gathered from the 
Sulphurs, Bois d'Arc and Sanders Creek in the 
spring, lazily eating the abundant grass and ca- 
vorting and playing and enjoying themselves. 
Well do I remember the sport we had in racing, 
chasing and catching deer with greyhounds in 
those days. How we would test the speed of our 
horses and the endurance of our dogs in the hunt 
and race for deer. We did not kill for lust's sake, 
but for sport's sake. It was easy to kill any num- 
ber with our guns, but we tried our skill in choos- 
ing the biggest, and had contests to see who could 
kill at the greatest distance and with the cleanest 
shot. The deer in those days were so numerous 
that they would do great damage to our roasting 
ears and pea patches, and we would flash them 
with our fire pans, their eyes shining like stars. 



32 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Then we would easily capture them. The choice, 
juicy venison made a feast fit for kings, and we 
enjoyed the luxury and the benefit of those veni- 
son hams for many a day. 

Wild turkeys were also very numerous, and 
fine, fat, sleek, blue-headed fellows. What enjoy- 
ment we used to have to get among a nice bunch 
of frying size and shoot till our barrels were hot, 
then gather so many that we could just barely 
carry them home, and have to leave them strewn 
on the ground! What fun it was to see some 
proud, strutting gobbler as he Was helping to 
make the woods echo with his gobble, and take 
a shot at him just as he was making a bee-line 
for our wheat fields. What a load we had to get 
our trophies home, but I always found where 
there was a will there's usually a way. I can 
truthfully say that necessity is the mother of 
invention. It was quite common for the wild tur- 
keys to come close to our home and mingle with 
mother's turkeys, and I have shot many of them. 
close to our yard fence. A little experience I had 
once that happened while several of us were out 
on one of our camping expeditions was rather 
humiliating, but I look back on it now with grati- 
fication. We had secured seventeen deer and an 
innumerable quantity of turkeys, and I saw on 
a sandy branch some turkeys laying in the little 
creek. There was a hole full of clear water and 
full of fish. I made up my mind to make a rec- 
ord for shooting turkeys — some of the boys had 
killed two or three at one shot, so I put an extra 
load in my gun, cautiously and secretly hid my- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 33 

self in a good place on a tree in a reclining posi- 
tion, about six or eight feet from the ground, and, 
as I anticipated, the turkeys came in large num- 
bers down the trail towards the water hole. I 
took careful aim, expecting to bag quite a few, 
as I had cocked both barrels of my big double bar- 
reled shotgun, and just when they were in range 
pulled the trigger. But what happened ? The kick 
knocked me from my position, I swung under the 
log and couldn't get back around, so I had to 
drop, and nearly broke my back in doing so. After 
I was able to get up I picked up my gun and went 
after my prize, when, to my amazement, I found 
feathers, feathers everywhere, enough to make 
a big feather bed, but not a turkey anywhere. 
Imagine if you can, how humiliated I was and 
how disappointed. The prize I expected to boast 
of became my humiliation. You ask: Did I tell 
the boys in camp of my disappointment? Well, 
no. I kept it to myself for several days, but finally 
I let it out. The joke on me was too good to keep. 
Even at my own expense, I felt I was letting my 
comrades have no share in the fun, so we all 
enjoyed a good, hearty laugh around the camp- 
fire as I told them my experience as we feasted 
on venison, turkey, fish, squirrel, quail and wild 
honey, which we had in abundance. Those days 
were bright and happy days, and we'll never see 
their like again. Now we are striving for other 
things, times have changed, and sports have 
changed, and with the change we forget the dan- 
gers and the labors of the pioneers of the past, 
but just the same they paved the way for the 
comforts and the plenty we now enjoy. 



34 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

When I hear of hunting parties going out to- 
day I can't help but remember what a difference 
there is between then and now. The prairie chick- 
ens used to fly in such numbers that they would 
obscure the sun. It was such sport shooting them 
and trying to see how many we could kill at one 
shot as they used to light in our fields when we 
were planting wheat. They were more numerous 
than blackbirds in oat-sowing time, and it kept us 
busy to keep them out of our fields. They would 
gather in the post oaks and live off the acorns in 
the fall of the year and weigh down the branches 
by their weight, they were so numerous. How 
well do I remember having stood on my father's 
gallery and shot at prairie chickens in the tops of 
the old post oak trees that stood in the yard. They 
didn't quite fall into the frying pan, but they 
dropped so close to the kitchen door that the cook 
had only to dress and clean them to put them 
there. They feasted also on berries, and in the 
shumake patches, when I was a mere lad herding 
sheep, too young to shoot a gun offhand, I carried 
a forked stick on which I placed the gun to shoot, 
and many of the feathery tribe have fallen when 
I pressed the trigger. I nearly always got a mess, 
but sometimes the recoil sent me sprawling on 
the ground, and not always did I have the time 
to choose the softest and coziest bed of flowers 
to lie upon. But what cared I for bruised or in- 
jured limbs, or bones, so long as I could get a 
goodly number of game! 

The quail and partridges were fat and fine, and 
numerous. We used to catch them in pens and 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 35 

shoot them, too. I have caught a dozen in one 
pen, and in harvest time we used to gather eggs 
and bake them in the hot sand and feast off them. 

Nor shall I forget the nectar of the gods — the 
honey furnished us by the industrious honey bee 
— the most wonderful insect in God's creation, flit- 
ting from flower to flower, extracting here a little 
and there a little, and gathering the sweetest of 
all the sweets. If there is anything I like better 
than honey it is more honey. The wonderful tales 
told of honey and the honey bee may seem exag- 
gerated, but no tale can exaggerate the abundance 
of honey that was tp be found right here in Texas 
in the early days. What sweet, happy days we 
had cutting bee-trees and eating the rich, wild 
honey spread over our buttered biscuits, biscuits 
ready for the occasion. We had a bountiful sup- 
ply the whole year round — combed honey, strained 
honey and candied honey. I cannot refrain from 
paying tribute to the industrious bees. How dili- 
gently they gather and economically store during 
the season of labor that they may have plenty in 
the store-house in the winter hours. What a les- 
son to us the bees give, teaching us the need for 
industry, thrift and economy, using our God-given 
talents while it is, day, and laying in store for the 
day when our work is done. Honey Grove — let 
the name perpetuate the meaning that its name 
implies, a grove where industry, economy, enter- 
prise and perseverance shall be perpetuated. It is 
said that Davy Crockett and his men, those illus- 
trious Texas heroes, camped here a week on their 
way to that world-famed Alamo, and fed on the 



36 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

honey that gave them the joy of service and zeal 
for their country's cause. These men, whose 
names are written in history's pages as heroes 
unequalled, and who will live in the memory of 
ages of unborn men and women for centuries to 
come. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 37 



CHAPTER IV. 



TEN YEARS A COWBOY IN THE WILD WEST. 

Ever since I first learned to ride a horse I was 
trained to work with herds and care for horses 
and cattle. Even before I could ride horseback I 
herded a large flock of sheep. In those days 
wolves and other carniverous animals were prowl- 
ing around so plentifully that it required the ut- 
most vigilance, both by night and by day, to keep 
them from being killed and eaten. We had to 
pen them in stockades built of heavy rails and 
logs near the house and guarded by good bear dogs 
to keep the wolves and panthers away. The sheep 
were very necessary to us then, and profitable. 
From their wool we carded, spun and wove our 
clothing, our bed clothes and our cloth. From 
their flesh we got our meat food. We made our 
own clothes then, and they were all wool and a full, 
wide yard. Every young woman and matron 
knew how to manufacture clothing for herself 
and for her children, and many a woman has made 
a suit for her husband and sons from the wool of 
the sheep that were raised in their own corral. 

As I grew older I had to herd cattle and horses. 
On the prairies the luxuriant grasses grew in such 
an abundance that it was very profitable to raise 
horses, cattle and hogs. Often the grass grew 
as high as the horses' sides. .In the summer there 



38 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

was ari abundance of grass on the high ground, 
and in the winter the cattle would fatten on the 
grass in the bottoms. Hogs fattened on persim- 
mons, pecans and hickory and walnuts. Farmers 
could borrow money at a very low rate of interest 
and mortgages were very rare. A man borrowed 
on his honor then and confidence prevailed, and 
there were no losses which required the honest 
man to bear because of the rascality of the man 
who absconded. Every one practiced the golden 
rule, doing unto others as they would be done by 
— not as it seems to be the rule today, to do others 
or else they will do you. 

There were no railroads then, and to market 
our stock we would round up our stock and drive 
them to Kansas or Nebraska, feeding them on the 
grasses on the way. Often for several months we 
would not be under a roof, sleeping out in the 
open, camping, exposed to the rigors of the weath- 
er, swimming rivers, in storms and rains, in bright 
and dark days, the thundering and lightning often 
stampeding the cattle, necessitating labor and 
work to round them up sometimes in the most 
trying conditions. 

The first trip I took I shall never forget. I had 
been used to having the comforts of home, with 
plenty of good milk, butter and eggs, chicken, 
fruits, vegetables and good wholesome made 
bread, and a nice soft feather bed to sleep on. But 
my! What a change when I started on the jour- 
ney to the market with the cattle — my first in- 
troduction to driving the cattle on that long jour- 
ney over the Chisholm trail to Kansas. How my 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 39 

bones ached and my appetite groaned, and how 
I longed for my happy, comfortable home. It re- 
quired all my courage, ambition and determina- 
tion to keep me on my way, and you may be sure 
the brackish, unfiltered water, and the coarse 
cornbread and fat bacon, and badly made coffee 
was not gratifying to the desires of my digestive 
organs. Nor did it have the effect of easing my 
mind — in fact, for a few days I almost starved. 
The cowboys and the cook called me the parson. 
They taunted me because I would not eat their 
crude food, and said: "Parson, you'll come to 
your appetite by and by" — and I did, for I soon 
got so I could eat any old thing they fixed and 
in any old way. Often after a long, hard day, I 
would arrive in camp almost exhausted after run- 
ning after stampeded cattle, sometimes being gone 
all night, with Hghtning flashes and thunder roar- 
ing and rain beating, or sleet beating in my face 
to sit down to a meal of corn-pone and fat bacon, 
washing it down with badly concocted coffee. 

The discomforts of the trail were not alone the 
hard bed of the prairie, nor the badly cooked 
meals, but we also had the dangers of the ever- 
present, murderous Indians. They lurked in every 
possible place that would give them a hiding place, 
and infested the country all along the route. Al- 
ways on the warpath, painted in their hideous 
colors, armed with bows, arrows and their scalp- 
ing knives, ready to slaughter the cowboys that 
they might rob them of their cattle. It was the 
will of the great Spirit that I should be delivered, 
though thousands of my brave fellows were 



40 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

slaughtered by these bloodthirsty devils, and their 
cattle stolen. Many a night, after a tedious and 
dangerous chasing of stampeded cattle, have we 
gone without supper and breakfast, and found 
ourselves ten or fifteen miles from camp, all alone 
with seventy-five or one hundred head of cattle, 
at the mercy of the ever-present onslaught of the 
treacherous Red Man, who was only too eager to 
take our lives that he might get our cattle. How 
it lingers in my memory, and I shall remember it 
to my dying day, how, when I would come in from 
the strain of the weariness and care of the trail, 
to find that the other cowboys who had gone in at 
intervals from rounding up their stampeded cattle, 
had left me nothing to eat, and how well I remem- 
ber the cook as he would say to me: ''Just wait. 
Parson, and I'll soon start a fire and have you some 
bread and coffee," and he would then gather up 
some of the weeds and grass and start to make me 
something to eat, telling me that he would have 
something for the Parson, even if he only had 
grass and weeds to cook it with. I would be so 
hungry that I couldn't wait, and would pitch in 
and eat ravenously of the raw meat, and as I think 
of it now, it tasted better than anything I ever 
ate in my life, although I was wet and weary and 
exhausted. Emergency and necessity makes us 
do things sometimes that we abhor under other 
conditions, and I learned in those days that a man 
will do things sometimes he says he would never 
do. One must experience the need of a situation 
before he is capable of knowing what he would do 
if he had to do it. It is the experienced who have 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 41 

the most sympathy, and it teaches patience to 
have to bear up against adversities. 

Another scene comes vividly to my mind on a 
night of extreme disorder. The night was so dark 
and the storm so menacing that we could not see 
the distance of the length of our arm, except when 
a flash of lightning illuminated the way for us. 
Feeling our way, not knowing what we might run 
into, nor what we were running over, the fright- 
ened cattle rushing ahead of us invisible except 
as we could see them ahead of us when the light- 
ning flashed, we were obliged to press on, for fear 
they would all be lost. For three days and nights 
we had been in the saddle nearly all the time. 
How we longed for the rest of the bed, rough as 
it was, where we could rest our bodies and give 
ourselves over to a good, sound sleep. While we 
were riding on this way, suddenly my brother's 
horse lit in a mudhole and his feet stuck, throw- 
ing the horse to the ground and my brother somer- 
saulted over his head, the horse sinking up to his 
breast, turned over on my brother as he fell and 
seriously hurt his left leg, arm and breast. I 
stopped and got off my horse to help him, but he 
said, **No, go full speed and catch my horse," for 
the horse, after falling, had got up and ran after 
the fleeing, stampeding cattle. By the frequent 
use" of the quirt and spurs I succeeded, by giving 
my horse his head, in reaching the herd, and 
finally located the horse and brought him b'Uck to 
my brother. But what a time I had in locating 
him, for with the howling of the wind and the 
howl of the wolves, and the cries of the panthers. 



42 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

and the hooting owls, I would hear him first in one 
place and then another, and many a wild goose 
chase I had, as I thought I heard his voice calling 
me in many different places. When I finally 
reached him I found him badly crippled, and with 
much difficulty and some help from him, succeed- 
ed in getting him in the saddle, when I had to take 
him back to camp, where our wagon and mess 
tent was. How he suffered, and for several days 
we were obliged to take him in the wagon, which 
was drawn by ox teams, before he was able to 
mount his horse again. This accident, no doubt, 
shortened his life, as he never fully recovered 
from the injury he sustained on this terrible 
night's experience — he always complained ever 
after of the pain in his breast. As I look back on 
those momentous days, with the dangers and ex- 
posures, and compare them with the comforts of 
today, made possible by the self-sacrificing pio- 
neering of the men and women of those days, I 
wonder and exclaim: Surely the goodness and 
mercy of the guiding hand and protecting care 
of our gracious heavenly Father has ever protected 
and followed me, and words fail to express my 
gratitude and thankfulness to Him for His good- 
ness to me. Millions have died since I came into 
existence, and yet He has thought well to leave me 
here. For some useful purpose He has kept me 
here, some helpful mission He intends I should 
do. I trust God will give me grace to do what He 
would have me do, and that I may use the talent 
He has given me, vigorously, courageously, for 
truth, honor, justice and mercy all along the path 
of life, till I reach the great beyond. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 43 

There were so many events in my life in the 
early days that it is, of course, impossible to nar- 
rate them all. One of the momentous times that 
I remember while we were driving our cattle was 
at a place where we had corraled them in a valley 
between two mountains, whose steep, rocky sides 
reared up almost perpendicularly, and on the other 
side was a deep, steep bank, while at the entrance 
of the valley we had stationed two cowboys, whom 
we felt certain would have no difficulty in con- 
trolling the cattle from making their escape. My 
brother and I had laid down with our clothes on, 
as was our custom when we were in expectancy 
of an immediate awakening from the stampeding 
cattle. About midnight there was a rush, like an 
avalanche of the long-legged Southern Texas- 
Spanish cattle which were grazing nearby — there 
must have been nearly ten thousand of them. 
They came rushing pell-mell over the rocks and 
hillsides, and the motion and noise is indescribable. 
I shall never forget the terrific commotion as they 
came towards our bunch and mingled with them. 
Our cattle were so frightened, and so hard to man- 
age that we were almost desperate to separate 
them the following day. It took us all day to 
get them apart, and one of our fellows lost his 
hat and the cattle ground it to shreds under their 
hoofs ; so he was compelled to wear a red bandana 
until we reached Kansas. He had such a spec- 
tacular appearance that we nicknamed, him our 
"Heap Big Indian Chief." Many of our cattle 
were dehorned from the rush of the wild steers, 
and several were so badly bruised that we were 
compelled to kill them to relieve them of their dis- 



44 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

tress. We lost many by the swollen streams in 
crossing the rivers, and often both riders and 
horses were lost in endeavoring to ford the 
streams. It was hard sometimes to get the herd 
across a stream, but after we would get one start- 
ed it would usually result in the rest following 
without any further trouble. It was on one of 
these occasions that I nearly lost my life. We had 
to swim the rivers on horseback, and we usually 
constructed a raft to float over our wagon. It was 
on the Big Walnut Creek, in the Osage Nation, 
near the Kansas line. A swollen stream was rapid- 
ly flowing in the creek, and we were anxious to 
cross before night came on. On the opposite bank 
was a log raft tied to a tree, and I told my brother 
Loss that I was going to swim across for that raft 
so we could ford our wagon and grub across. So 
I took hold of the rope with my teeth after tieing 
two thirty-foot lariats together, started to swim 
across. I got along first rate until I reached 
about the middle, when the weight of the rope in 
the water caused me to have fear that I should 
be unable to bear up. But I was so determined 
to carry out my plan that I held on with grim 
desperation, and was drawn under the water. I 
was not frightened, and preserved my presence 
of mind. My brother yelled for me to let go of 
the rope, but being of a persistent disposition, I 
held on desperately, and as I was drawn under I 
would hold my breath so that I would not strangle. 
I only had a short distance to go to reach the 
other shore, when I found my strength was about 
to give way. I made one strong effort, and was 
just about to give up when, in standing in the 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 45 

water, I found I could just touch bottom, and this 
gave me courage to make one more effort, and 
after two or three more strokes I succeeded in 
grasping hold of a strong limb in a bush hang- 
ing on the edge of the bank, which saved me from 
going under. I was so fatigued and worn out 
that I lay there holding to the branch for several 
minutes before I could gather enough strength 
to crawl out on the shore and walk up to where 
the raft was tied. It did not take long to get the 
raft over and ferry our traps and grub, but it 
seemed an age when I was swimming across that 
dangerous overflowing river. It took me several 
days to get over that little experience, and I have 
often thought if that river had been another yard 
wider I would have been on the other shore, where 
mankind never has come back. 

As my memory takes me back to those long 
drives to market with our cattle, and I compare 
them with the conveniences of today, I cannot 
help but feel that the present generation owes a 
great debt of gratitude to the pioneers who blazed 
the trail for the vast possibilities that are all 
about us. Gone are the days when we would 
loiter around the markets for days at a time wait- 
ing for the price for our cattle, letting them fat- 
ten on the nutritious grass so plentiful every- 
where until they would fatten so we should be 
able to get our price. Meanwhile we would live 
on fish and game, and we would keep our cattle 
calmly feeding, with occasionally a few barrels 
of salt to keep them in good condition. The land 
is now nearly all taken up, and it is not so free 



46 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

to find as then, and we shall never see them again 
— those days when a man was in fact monarch 
of all he surveyed. We did not appreciate our 
privileges then. Had we had the foresight, what 
opportunities we might have accompHshed. It 
teaches me the lesson that we should make good 
use of our opportunities, and we will then have 
plenty for the rainy days. But each dark cloud 
has its silver lining, so after all is the fact that the 
opportunities lost were lost only to be made 
brighter for others, who have reaped the benefits 
of the sacrifices of those who were willing to give 
their lives in settling this, then, barren waste, and 
build homes and rear children for the development 
of what is now our great and glorious common- 
wealth. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 47 

CHAPTER V. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH AND HISTORY OF 

MY FATHER, W. B. ALLEN, AS TOLD 

BY HIMSELF. 

(Written by J. Taylor Allen, Jan. 6th, 1908.) 

Born August 1st, 1816, in Edgefield District, 
South Carolina; emigrated with his parents, when 
eight years old, to Brownsville, Haywood County, 
Tennessee. He had four brothers and two sis- 
ters. His father died in Haywood County, Ten- 
nessee. 

When about eighteen years old (hearing of the 
war between Mexico and the Repubhc of Texas, 
under President-General Sam Houston, battling 
for freedom, liberty and independence against 
Spanish and Mexican tyrannical rule) and being 
possessed of a patriotic, daring, adventuresome, 
pioneer spirit, longed to come to Texas to engage 
in the conflict, and faithfully, heroically and en- 
ergetically battle against Spaniards, Mexicans, 
wild, blood-thirsty Indians, innumerable wild ani- 
mals, and endure the many dangers, inconven- 
iences and hardships incident to early pioneer 
settlers life. 

His dear old widowed mother, brothers, sisters 
and other relatives and friends, fully realizing the 
hazard, sought to dissuade him from his greatly 
desired, dangerous journey, telling him that he 
would be killed and scalped by blood-thirsty sav- 
age Indians, his body devoured by ferocious ani- 



48 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

mals, and his people in the far-away Tennessee 
homeland never would know what became of him. 

But all scary tales and persuasion only made 
him bolder and more determined to make the 
hazardous journey; so that his mother and other 
relatives and friends, seeing their efforts to dis- 
suade him were of no avail, began to plan and 
arrange for his departure. At just about this 
time, two of the old-time friends of his mother 
and father. Dr. Boyce and Everett Harris, were 
planning and arranging to make the journey on 
horseback to Texas to secure some of the good, 
rich land ; so his mother told them her son, Wilson 
B. Allen, was determined to go and besought them 
that he might go with them. Of course, since it 
was her wish, they consented and accepted his 
earnest request and were really glad to have him 
accompany them on their long, lonesome, danger- 
ous journey through a country almost uninhabit- 
ed by white people; surrounded as they journeyed 
by wild, blood-thirsty Indians and wild animals. 
It seems miraculous that they were not killed, 
but a kind Providence protected and provided se- 
curity for these brave and determined pioneer 
settlers. They proceeded on their journey with- 
out any serious inconvenience until in Arkansas. 
Father's horse took sick, and, notwithstanding all 
their efforts and remedies, died, leaving father 
afoot to travel in that dangerous wilderness. 

To try him and test his metal, patience and 
courage, his friends saucily and tauntingly said: 
"Young man, we tried to discourage you from com- 
ing on this long, hard, dangerous journey and 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



49 



warned you that you would wish you had re- 
mained with your relatives and friends in Ten- 
nessee, when they gathered in vast numbers to 
bid you God-speed and bid you farewell, not ex- 




CAPT. W. B. ALLEN 



pecting to see you again. Don't you wish you was 
at home with your mother?" But father boldly 
and courageously told them that that was not the 
only horse in the world and he expected to own a 
ranch of horses and cattle, hogs and land in Texas 
before he died, telling his friends to map out the 



50 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

way, and each following night they would find him 
on their arrival waiting for them, for he would 
out travel their horses. 

His friends, admiring his courage and earnest- 
ness, said to him: ''Young man, you are of the 
right metal ; we will never leave nor forsake you ; 
you haven't got the money to buy a horse, but we 
have and will buy you one the first opportunity." 
They told father to take his saddle, bridle and 
blanket on his back and go back to the nearest 
stage stand and they would go on to the next stage 
stand, and when he came, they would buy him a 
horse. 

On his way, trudging along with the load on his 
back, he saw a man in the distance driving to- 
ward him in a two-horse wagon, with a lead horse 
tied to hind end of wagon. Supposing father was 
a horse thief, as the surrounding country was in- 
fested with horse thieves — (white men who were 
in league with the prowling, thieving Indians, 
and really a great deal of the worst killing and 
stealing was done by mean white men, renegades, 
murderers and thieves who had fled from Eastern 
and Northern States, doing meanness and charg- 
ing same to Indians) — the man with the two- 
horse wagon kept stopping ; did not know what to 
do ; but, when father came up he told him that he 
was no horse thief, but only a poor boy, eighteen 
years old, just from Tennessee on his way to 
Texas, and that his horse had died and he would 
greatly appreciate a ride to next stage stand. He 
said to father : *'You have an honest-looking face ; 
I believe I can trust you." Father said, "I am poor 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 51 

but propose to be honest, truthful and industrious, 
and that he felt sure he could make a living in 
this big world." 

Father was told to put his saddle, bridle and 
blanket on the lead horse and that his company 
would ve very acceptable on their dangerous jour- 
ney. On arriving at the stage stand they found 
father's friends patiently waiting father's arrival, 
and bought the horse for father and then con- 
tinued their journey without any further misfor- 
tune or molestation, crossing Red River north of 
where Paris is now located. There were no houses 
then in that section of the country. 

Coming out on the big prairie between there 
and where Honey Grove now stands they camped, 
and out in the surrounding distance they viewed 
the broad expanse of land, and, being from a tim- 
bered country, this was the first prairie they ever 
saw. 

The innumerable buffalo, deer, wild Spanish 
horses, wolves, bear, turkeys, prairie chicken, add- 
ed increased attraction, excitement and interest 
to the scene, and they were delighted in seeing 
the beautiful, waving, luxuriant, nutritious grass, 
up to a horse's side, interspersed with beautiful, 
fragrant flowers of every hue and color, around 
which the ever-industrious honey bees swarmed, 
gathering the sweetest and best of nature's dain- 
ties, a great deal of which was found in sheets 
hanging on to the tall grass that had previously 
fallen down and tangled. 



52 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

After having viewed and fully contemplated na- 
ture's most beautiful and grand display, which 
poet's pen or painter's brush fails to fully paint 
or portray, and after having royally feasted on 
said lavish supply of the world's best, they pur- 
sued their journey across the indescribable prairie 
and arrived at Uncle Jesse Shelton's, the only man 
then living on the well-noted and far-famed Sul- 
phur Creek. A more hospitable or better family 
father says he never met. After such a long jour- 
ney, it seemed like meeting with kindred and long- 
separated friends, though they had never met be- 
fore. It was like those who travel in a desert, 
barren wilderness who, after having nearly per- 
ished for water, come suddenly upon cold, gurg- 
ling springs of pure water from unfailing, inex- 
haustible fountains. With renewed vigor, hope, 
perseverence and patience they were encouraged 
to continue on their journey, surmounting every 
obstacle, danger and difficulty, which should ever 
encourage us to perseveringly labor, and patiently 
wait, and, if at first you don't succeed, try, try 
again. 

After remaining at Uncle Jesse Shelton's a few 
days, father made him a proposition to work by 
the day or month for him, as he was very anxious 
to make some- money to pay for the horse his 
friends bought for him. Uncle Jesse told him he 
did not need any hired help, as he had four boys 
with negroes plenty to attend his stock, make rail 
fences and break new land and cultivate the small 
acreage already planted in corn for bread and 
roasting ears, but father being so willing to help 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 53 

in doing any kind of work that came up during the 
day, and with lighted fat pine knots ablaze in an 
old-fashioned frying pan, with the handle tied to 
the end of a pole and placed on his shoulder, and 
going forth at night to dazzle the eyes of deer, 
coons, etc., that were destroying the roasting ears, 
pumpkins and peas, and kilhng large numbers, 
thereby saved the patch to the owner, who appre- 
ciated it so much that he employed my father at 
$15.00 per month, one-half of his time to be put 
in hunting by day and part of the night, which 
exciting sport he greatly enjoyed. 

After a great quantity of buffalo, bear, panther, 
deer, wolf, coon skins and beef hides, etc., were 
secured they were loaded on to pack ponies, horses 
and mules and transported eighty-five miles to 
Sam Fulton's store on White River, Arkansas, 
and exchanged for the real necessities of life. 
Often when they ran out of supplies before they 
could renew their trip for more, they made out 
without bread or salt; but having an abundance 
of all kinds of wild meats and wild honey, they 
fared sumptuously from Mother Nature's own 
hand and generous production. When they wished 
to capture wild Spanish horses, the plan that ever 
proved practical and successful was for a skillful, 
experienced marksman with rifle to shoot in a cer- 
tain part of the neck, thus creasing the same, 
which stunned the animal, causing it to fall; and 
while struggling rawhide lariats were quickly and 
securely placed in running noose around the ani- 
mal's neck, and when sufficient recovered from 
the terrible shock, a desperate struggle ensued be- 



54 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

tween the captured prize and the men, the animal 
plunging, squeahng, and bawling until completely- 
overcome and exhausted. Then a stoutly rigged 
Spanish saddle was tightly and stoutly girded. 
After a little rest, the rider quickly bounded into 
the saddle and the real, exciting fun began in 
earnest; bounding high in the air, coming down 
stiff -legged, head between front legs, all humped 
up; snorting, continuing desperately to exert 
every muscle in the effort to displace the rider 
and send him sprawling on the ground, which was 
impossible if a practical, experienced rider. The 
most serious and dangerous part of the program 
was from a high plunge, straight up in the air 
and falling backward, which has often resulted in 
making riders cripples for life, and some have 
been suddenly killed. The Spanish horses were 
noted for their hardy, tough endurance, standing 
more hardships with nothing but wild grass to eat, 
than any living horse, but invariably, after a lit- 
tle rest, they had to be broke over again each suc- 
ceeding time as long as they lived. 

After a considerable time had elapsed, father 
being agreeably employed by Uncle Jesse, father 
said to George Shelton one day. "George, sup- 
pose we take a trip into Western Texas (calling 
this portion West Texas) and locate choice claims 
of 640 acres each, which we are justly entitled 
to." "But no," said George, "father will not con- 
sent for us to go as we are all really needed here 
to protect our log cabin home, for we are exposed 
to the danger of assault from the wild, blood- 
thirsty Indians and wild animals at all times." 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 55 

However, it was not long until some more brave 
young men came from Tennessee, who insisted 
and earnestly plead with Uncle Jesse Shelton to 
let father and George go with them, and fully ex- 
plore and locate land in this portion of the coun- 
try. After a long time Uncle Jesse told them if 
they would complete a big task of making good 
large rails and haul same out and fence and break 
a certain piece of new land, that father and George 
might go with them. They all set to work vigor- 
ously and energetically and soon completed the 
required task. Then commenced a thorough 
preparation for their dangerous journey. After 
packing their ponies with such necessaries then 
to be obtained, such as dressed buffalo and bear 
skins, robes for bedding, frying pan to cook then- 
wild game in, a good supply of guns, ammunition, 
bowie knives, etc.; rawhide lariats to tie their 
ponies onto nature's own lavish field; flint rock 
and spunk to strike fires, there being no matches 
then, they proceeded on their journey, coming out 
on the noted, far-famed prairie between where 
Paris and Honey Grove now are. They camped 
one or two days, killing and feasting on all kinds 
of game, thence across to Saunders Creek, on 
which a man named Wildman, the only man then 
living on said stream. He had a few poles tied to- 
gether at the top, covered with bear, buffalo, 
panther, wolf and deer skins, and the same kind 
were used for bedding. After royally entertain- 
ing their host, they had great sport chasing game 
with fleet-footed grey hounds and race horses, see- 
ing who could capture the greatest number. 
Prizes were awarded to successful competitors. 



56 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

which consisted of best deer skin suit, moccasins 
and coon skin cap. Sometimes best dressed buf- 
falo and bear skins, with hair left on, were count- 
ed good, useful premiums, and sometimes grey 
hounds and ponies were exchanged from owners 
to prize-takers. 

From the creek they came out on the three- 
mile branch east of Honey Grove, which city has 
been established long since then. After enjoy- 
ing themselves to their heart's content on said 
branch, father said: "Boys, come, let us go to 
yonder point of timber that extends far out in the 
prairie." They rapidly hastened to said place, and 
arriving there found camp fire signs — carcasses of 
wild animals that had been killed by said campers, 
and a great number of bee trees had been cut, all 
of which indicated that quite a number — perhaps 
fifteen or twenty men — had camped there for a 
week, which father and his party learned later 
was David Crockett and comrades on their way 
to the celebrated, famous Alamo, where the heroic 
braves engaged in deadly combat with Santa Anna 
and his hosts, and fell in defense of our Texas 
homeland. Father and comrades camped several 
days in the celebrated grove. 

One day while father was wending his way 
through briars, vines and brush, he came upon a 
stooping pin oak tree on which was cut in large 
letters the following, to-wit: "Honey Grove." 
Father's curiosity was excited and desiring that 
the other boys should see same, he called aloud, 
"Come here, boys!" But the boys having just 
come in off a big round-up, having killed a great 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 57 

quantity of game and being tired, were in no 
humor to go further until rested. They said to 
father, in a loud voice, "We will not come there ; 
we are tired of all kinds of wild game and honey, 
anyhow." But father assured them that it was 
something new and uncommon. Finally they con- 
cluded to go and see the new something. Father, 
pointing up, said: "Boys, there is the name by 
which the city that will be here some day shall be 
called." 

Another day while father was alone hunting in 
the grove he kept hearing some noise, pit-a-pat, in 
rapid succession, and proceeded cautiously 
through vines, brush and briars, until he could 
see a large bear robbing a bee tree, thrusting his 
fore paw into the hollow of the tree, which the 
bear had knawed with his teeth large enough to 
bring out large slices of honey covered with bees, 
which, of course, stung Mr. Bruin in rapid succes- 
sion, he patting them vigorously and raking them 
off of his nose and head. Father watched him un- 
til he had eaten about a large bucketful, and then 
with his faithful, tried and true rifle, sent a bullet 
crashing through his heart. Father then, with a 
large bowie knife, proceeded to butcher him. 
When he and the boys got him to camp they all 
decided he was the largest and fattest they had 
seen. Besides abundance of honey in every hol- 
low tree they found plenty deposited in the high 
grass, where it had fallen in drooping position, 
which justly entitles the place to the appropriate 
name. Honey Grove. 

They found the famous waters, now known as 



58 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

the Erwin Spring, which afforded an abundance 
of good, pure water, standing in holes where it 
had run far below. The innumerable Indian 
moccasin tracks and the tremendous amount of 
wild animal tracks proved that it was the regular 
watering place for the surrounding country. The 
boys added a little to truth and real facts by tell- 
ing newcomers from the far Eastern States late 
on, that in addition to an abundance of all kinds 
of game and honey in every hollow tree and in the 
grass, there was a honey pond of as pure honey 
as mortal man ever ate, around which stood fritter 
trees heavily loaded with fritters ; wooden pitch- 
forks to fork them down, wallow them in the 
honey and feast to the heart's content ; also, that 
the perpetual fountain of youth was there and 
from the waters of which you became young again, 
all aches and pains going forever. When those to 
whom this was told, made diligent search and re- 
turned, they were asked if they found everything 
as described. They said they found everything 
except the honey pond and fritter tree ; they found 
the good spring in which they bathed but could 
appreciate no material difference to the extent of 
changing from old age to youth. 

Continuing their journey down the celebrated 
Honey Grove Creek, coming opposite the noted 
Allen's Point, which was named after my father, 
he being the first to blaze a road through, mark 
lines and put up corners, thinking at that time if 
no better place was found, they would locate their 
claims there, having plenty of timber, surrounded 
on three sides by a beautiful prairie, and plenty 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 59 

of game and wild honey. But as they were out 
looking, they proceeded to further explore the 
country. Coming to the beautiful spot, where the 
present old homestead is, he said: "Boys, here I 
intend to live and die." And he did, being called 
home from, this early pilgrimage the third day 
of July, 1900, being aged eighty-three years, nine 
months and two days. He is free from care, sor- 
row and pain; no more pioneer hardships and 
dangers to endure; sacrifices made that others 
coming after might have peacable, happy, con- 
tented, prosperous homes. Oh ! let us ever rever- 
ence his memory and all the heroic men and wom- 
en of pioneer days of Texas. They have estab- 
lished monuments to their m.emory by good deeds, 
prompted by a true spirit that will live forever. 

While out on this prospecting trip they traveled 
north, finding a lone wild pine tree near the old 
homestead place, and concluded that there was 
certainly a pinery near, and looking away in the 
distance they could see a high ridge of timber, 
which they mistook for a huge pinery ; but, upon 
arriving there it proved to be what they called a 
poor, barren, post oak ridge, timbered country. 
Here there was an abundance of wild game of all 
kinds and extra fine grass. Before reaching this 
post oak timbered ridge they crossed the cele- 
brated and widely known Bois d'Arc bottom and 
creek. Words fail to describe the immense tall 
cane brakes; cane so large, thick and high that 
thirty feet away could not be told whether In- 
dians, bear, panther, wolves, deer, cattle or horses 
abounded. They entered this cane brake, but with 



60 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

faithful, tried and true bear dogs, gun and ammu- 
nition ever ready and prepared for any emergency, 
should an occasion of necessity for self-defense or 
fight to a finish ensue, which often occurred in 
after years while hunting wild game, horses, cat- 
tle and hogs. The wild rye and other luxuriant 
nutritious grasses, I assure you, were indescrib- 
able, and pen is inadequate to the task to fully 
describe the vast quantity of valuable Bois d'Arc 
timber, which has proved of great benefit in sup- 
plying the world with timber, out of which the 
famous Bois d'Arc wagons have been and are still 
being made, and also the most durable fence posts, 
which incloses millions of acres of the richest 
virgin soil of the world. But this supply of Bois 
d'Arc timber is becoming exhausted and the ruth- 
less hand of time will fail to replace except in very 
limited quantities. 

From what is now known as the Erwin Spring 
at the head of the famous Honey Grove Creek, 
down to opposite what is known as Allen's Point, 
father said: **Boys, here is a splendid place to lo- 
cate our claims ; an abundance of good timber ad- 
joining the prairie and the world alive with game." 
They proceeded to mark trees and blaze out the 
first claims and roads from whence the celebrated 
Allen's Point derived its name, the same being 
named for my father and will, I hope, retain its 
name until the last note of Gabriel's trumpet will 
be sounded. But instead of father settling at 
once, he proceeded with his friends to explore 
further the grand and beautiful country — so many 
good locations it was hard to decide where to 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 61 

permanently settle, but he finally concluded to as- 
sist Thomas Kemble to clear up a piece of land, 
fence and build a pole cabin on what is now known 
as the Humble place, and said Kemble in turn as- 
sisted father to clear and put a brush fence around 
a little patch of ground on what is now known as 
the Ishom Jolley place (where Dr. Buck Gamble 
once lived ; after him Bill Ward lived there) . 

One day while father was grubbing said patch, 
three Indian chiefs with 600 warriors of the Kick- 
apoo, Kiowa and Comanche tribes, having their 
war paint on and equipped for their style of war- 
fare, which consisted of bows and arrows, lances, 
tomahawks and scalping knives. They came 
screaming like multitudes of wolves and panthers, 
surrounded father on all sides, riding over his 
brush fence as if nothing was there. Imagine, if 
you can, his thoughts and feelings on that occa- 
sion. He, a boy only 18 years old, fresh from old 
Tennessee, all alone, surrounded by savage, blood- 
thirsty demons screaming for scalp and blood! 
Ten thousand thoughts rapidly revolved and 
passed through his mind; he would never again 
see his Tennessee home, his dear old widowed 
mother, brothers and sisters, kindred and friends ; 
he expected to be killed and scalped, and his body 
left to be devoured by wild beasts and no one ever 
knew what became of him. But an overruling, 
Allwise Providence ruled and prevailed. Father's 
first thought was to step and get his true and 
tried rifle, which was standing against a tree near 
by, but, "No," he said, "I am helpless; I can do 
nothing but submit to my doom and fate and die 
brave like a man by standing my ground." He 



62 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

afterwards said, "I was scared nearly to death." 
His hair stood on end, raising his hat on his head. 
But having heard of and read in history that if 
the white man acts brave the Indians will admire 
his bravery and not kill him. He therefore sum- 
med up all the courage possible under the circum- 
stances and surroundings and continued grubbing. 
The Indians advanced within fifty yards. Sud- 
denly they all stopped. Three, who proved to be 
chiefs, held up their arrows with white rags tied 
to them, which signified peace and friendship. The 
chiefs got down and advanced to where father 
stood, saying in broken English: "Howdy do, 
much heap brave, good white man; much heap 
brave," patting him on the back, "make heap 
brave, big chief; whippy all big tribes." Father 
felt greatly relieved, having never heard more ap- 
preciative, soothing, enchanting words. They took 
up the black dirt in their hands saying: "Much 
heap rich, good dirt ; makey heap good corn," and 
they assured father they wanted corn. Then and 
there he freely and liberally gave them all the 
parched corn he had, which was a very small 
amount, indeed, in return for which they threw 
down at his feet dressed bear, buffalo, wolf, 
panther and deer skins. They then enquired for 
a store. He told them the nearest store was Sam 
Fulton's, eighty-five miles northeast of where 
P^ris now stands. They camped on the familiar 
and noted Wards Creek an entire week. Father 
said he never saw so much game of all kinds killed 
in the same length of time in his life. They in- 
vited him to their camps, which invitation he 
gladly accepted and freely partook of their hos- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 63 

pitality, feasted royally, and smoked their pipe of 
peace. They also accepted his invitation and ate 
many a hearty meal around his campfire which 
consisted of all kinds of wild meat without bread 
or salt. Water was used, there being no such 
thing as milk or coffee. They pleaded and earn- 
estly urged that father go with them and be their 
big chief, but he reconciled them to let him remain 
and in so many moons he would have corn to trade 
them for peltry. They packed their ponies, gave 
a war whoop, yell, and away they went in the di- 
rection of Sam Fulton's store, 85 miles away, 
which was the last father ever saw of them. He 
felt once more monarch of all he surveyed. 

A photograph of those wild Indians with brass 
rings in their nose, wild cat tails hanging in their 
ears, warpaint on their faces and half dressed in 
skins of wild animals, would attract curiosity and 
attention, and many would exclaim : "How did the 
pioneer settlers escape from being killed and 
scalped ?" Perhaps the boys and girls, and grown 
up people, too, will better appreciate their 
privileges, opportunities and surrounding circum- 
stances if from reading our sketches of true facts 
and history of early pioneer life in Texas they 
can fully realize the difference between then and 
now. Oh, what dangers, hardships and inconven- 
iences they endured that we, their posterity, 
might have peaceful, prosperous, happy contented 
homes! Let us ever reverence their memory, and 
commemorate their brave, daring, adventurous 
deeds by meeting at least once a year in reunion 
of the surviving old settlers, and may our chil- 



64 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

dren down to future generations continue to per- 
petuate the practice until time shall be no more. 

Guns with ammunition were few and scarce, a 
judicious, economical use of same in engagements 
with Indians and wild animals was always essen- 
tial, and really necessary, for in a mortal combat 
life and death issue, there was no time to be lost, 
no time for mistakes. Father and Uncle Joe 
Spence had an experience one day they never for- 
got to their dying day. After killing a great many 
buffalo, bear, panther and deer in the Journigan 
thicket — where it was once said that ''a bowie 
knife could not be thrust up to the handle in it 
so tremendously thick was the grass interwoven 
with brush, vines and briars." Their supply of 
ammunition was nearly exhausted. In this case 
of emergency five Indians came dashing out of the 
thicket, screaming and yelling, letting fly showers 
of arrows close about father's and Uncle Joe's 
heads. They, of course, had to defend themselves 
as best they could under the circumstances. Their 
supply being short, they had to reserve their 
loads until compelled to shoot, which they did, 
killing two of the Indians. They would come dash- 
ing up to within 75 or 100 yards then turn, all the 
time intending to decoy them to shoot out their 
remaining ammunition, then they would have run 
upon, killed and scalped them, but father and his 
comrade planned and maneuvered cautiously. Fa- 
ther said: '*Joe, the one that kills the old chief 
shall have his fine, fleetfooted dapple gray horse," 
which was trained to wheel and turn suddenly on 
his hind feet and jump seemingly 40 feet. Their 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 65 

custom was to lean away under the side of their 
ponies, only one foot hanging over the horse's 
back for white men to shoot at. But in one of 
his dashes big chief straightened himself up and 
banteringly and defiantly patted his breast, at 
which time father drew a bead and sent a rifle 
ball through his breast. He reeled and fell to one 
side, and was caught and held on his horse by two 
of his warriors, who rode on each side until they 
reached an opening in the thicket and hastened 
to escape, but upon their pursuers' close, desperate 
chase, father saw smoke, also buzzards fly, which 
indicated an Indian camp. Of course, safety de- 
manded a right about, hasty retreat, sadly dis- 
appointed at not having come into possession of 
the coveted prize. Although Indians invariably 
take a white man's scalp when possible, yet they 
considered their tribe ruined and disgraced when 
a white man took one of their scalps, and always 
used every strategy, cunning and precaution to 
prevent one of their number, though dead, from 
falHng into the hands of the white man. 

On another occasion father and a few friends 
— Uncle Jerry Ward was one of the number, 
rigged up their camp outfit into an ox wagon, 
took their bear dogs, guns and ammunition and 
hied away to the head of the famous North Sul- 
phur, at which place they camped one week, cut- 
ting bee trees, killing bear, panther, buflfalo and 
many other animals too numerous to mention. In 
several desperate engagements with wounded 
bears they lost several of their best bear dogs. 
Mr. Bear defended himself by standing on his hind 



66 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

feet and when dogs approached near enough they 
would box with their forepaws and send the dogs 
head over heels through the air, often resulting in 
a dead dog. Mr. Bear would also often securely 
hold a dog tightly in his embrace and hug and 
squeeze them to death. A great many bear were 
killed on that trip — enough bear and various other 
kinds of game to last one year. They also se- 
cured an abundance of good, rich honey in bar- 
rels and several fine swarms of bees in hollow logs. 

An experience never to be forgotten happened 
en route home. Jolting along, the packing to se- 
cure the bees in the hive came out. Of course, 
the bees made for everything in sight, causing a 
tremendous stampede of men and oxen, resulting 
and terminating in the w^orst stung men and oxen 
you ever saw — oxen pitching and bellowing, scat- 
tering gums, bees, honey and bear meat and pieces 
of wagon for miles and miles along the way. Oxen 
broke their bows and furiously plunged into the 
thicket, where they remained secure by hiding 
away for a week before they were found. They 
were wild and foolish, a knotty sight to be sure. 
On another trip near same place they barreled up 
an abundance of honey, and on their way back 
home they camped on the head of a rocky branch. 
The barrels leaked out so much honey that the 
next morning the branch was running with honey 
trickling down over ledges of rocks. 

Father put down Bois d'Arc land corners, stakes 
and' posts seventy years ago which are as sound 
and good as when placed there; more endurable 
than iron, for iron will rust and finally give way, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 67 

but Bois d'Arc has the staying quahties which 
seem to defy Mother Time in duration. 

On said trip father and his brave comrades 
went as far north as Red River, but finding noth- 
ing there to satisfy their curiosity, they turned 
about in the direction of home. On their return 
trip one day about noon, when they were very 
hungry and tired, they came upon the friendly 
semi-civilized Shawnee Indian village, which stood 
about two hundred yards west of Uncle Pinkney 
Self's spring, which is- about one mile northeast 
of Shiloh church. Father said: "Boys, fix to fight, 
we see smoke ascending from an Indian camp." 
And, of course, they thought they were the blood- 
thirsty, wild Indians; but, after spying and close 
investigation, father said: ''Boys, they are a 
friendly tribe, for I can see pole cabins, hear lit- 
tle bells on stock; hear dogs barking." So they 
boldly rode up into their camp, around which camp 
fire Shawnee Bill, big chief, and warriors sat 
feasting on bear, buffalo, venison and wild honey. 
When they saw father and crowd rapidly ap- 
proaching they sprang to their bows and arrows, 
tomahawks and scalping knives, prepared to give 
battle, but father held up the ramrod of his gun, 
with a white flag tied on it, indicating peace and 
friendship, which had the desired effect, for Big 
Chief Shawnee Bill came forward and met father 
and the boys at once, shaking hands with them, 
speaking broken English, freely invited and wel- 
comed them to partake of their hot and smoking 
feast, which was good enough for a king. Words 
fail to describe father and the boys' appreciation 



68 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

and gratitude to their host for the royal style of 
entertainment which they never forgot to their 
dying day. Father said that was the first time in 
his life he ever ate buffalo, bear and venison 
cooked in royal Indian style ; and they, being very 
hungry, surely did justice to the occasion. After 
a hearty meal Big Chief Shawnee Bill pointed to 
one of his brave warriors, who brought a large 
rock pipe with cane stem, filled with some of their 
kind of smoking herbs, each one taking a whiff 
and passing it on around until Indian warriors and 
whites had all smoked, which was a sure and in- 
variable token of peace and friendship; "white 
man no smoke with big, brave Indian, big Indian 
heap kill him." Covenants and agreement con- 
tracts were then entered into between redskins 
and whites; ''white man help Shawnee, Shawnee 
help white man follow, fight and whip wild Indians 
and bring back horses, cattle or hogs when they 
had stolen same from Shawnee or white man." 
They ever proved faithful and true to said treaty 
contract, for often when father or boys had horses, 
cattle or hogs stolen by wild tribes, by letting 
Shawnee Bill and warriors know, they came at 
once and proceeded on the trail, even by starlight, 
when the white man could only follow same slow- 
ly. After coming upon the wild tribe with stolen 
stock a desperate battle ensued, generally result- 
ing in Shawnee and white man getting their stock 
back; but sometimes the wild tribe was too nu- 
merous, going their way with the captured, stolen 
prize. Father said to Big Chief Shawnee Bill one 
day: "Bill, why is it that Indian takes white 
men's, women's and children's scalps?" Bill shook 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 69 

his head, saying: ''Me no tell brave white man; 
come so many moons," telling father the exact 
time and he would show him why they take scalps. 
So when the time came, father with his picked, 
brave fighters, was on hand. Shawnee Bill, after 
welcoming him and the picked fighters, chose some 
of his bravest warriors and they at once proceeded 
on their perilous expedition. Coming to a deep 
ravine, having an immense tangle of grass, weeds, 
vines and briars, they could only progress slowly 
afoot. Soon they heard an indescribable yeUing 
and weird Indian songs, which proved to be a wild 
Indian war whoop dance around white men, wom- 
en and children scalps, which was their custom 
certain times each moon. Their music consisted 
of beating on dried buffalo and beef hides, and 
every time they came to a certain Indian warrior 
as they were dancing, screaming, yelling and 
jumping high, around and around, they would hold 
their hands enchantingly over his head, constant- 
ly going through weird ceremonies. Father whis- 
pered, "Bill, why do they practice such strange 
maneuvers over the head of a certain Indian all 
the time ?" ''We are now where I show you why 
they take white men, women and children's scalps ; 
he having most scalps on his belt will be their big 
chief next moon. They do not take their word 
for how many they have killed and scalped, but 
having the scalps they know for sure and reward 
accordingly." 

Winding their way cautiously to keep from be- 
ing discovered by their enemies, they finally ar- 
rived safely and sound in camp, feeling a great 



70 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

deal safer and wiser men. After two weeks' pros- 
pecting tour, exploring the beautiful country, they 
returned to Uncle Jesse Shelton's and found them 
all well, safe and sound and enjoying life. The 
half has never been told of the magnificent scenery 
that extended far out in panoramic view on every 
side, as the early heroes, pioneers, first settlers of 
our Texas homeland, journeyed day by day. 
Neither will the half ever be told of their many 
privations, inconveniences, hardships and dangers 
endured by our pioneer fathers and mothers in 
blazing out and opening up the way for all that 
follow until time shall be no more. We should 
ever reverence their memory and duly appreciate 
our opportunities, privileges and circumstances. 

For many years before the war between the 
North and South father was government contrac- 
tor, driving beef cattle through on the range to 
Omaha, Nebraska, and many other noted points, 
and distributed a great deal of money throughout 
this country among cattle raisers, for he always 
bought up a great many and drove them through 
with his own, being gone on said trips for months 
from home, never sleeping in a house. He was 
really inured to hardships and exposure; had a 
robust constitution, adapted to all kinds of rough 
and tumble life, under all conditions and surround- 
ing circumstances, adapting himself therto cheer- 
fully, courageously and perseveringly. But when 
the great Civil War was declared, he having great 
faith in the cause of the Confederacy to retain 
their slaves, which they had honestly bought with 
their own hard-earned money, he exchanged many 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 71 

thousands of dollars for Confederate bonds, which, 
of course, was a clear loss, as ours proved a lost 
cause. Many years before the war father paid 
four thousand ($4,000.00) dollars in gold for ne- 
groes at the noted Jason Petigrew sale, which 
proved a loss, as they were all freed a few years 
after his purchase ; he also lost eight hundred dol- 
lars in gold stock in the first charter grant to a 
railroad to extend from Memphis, Tennessee, to 
El Paso, Texas, thence on to the Pacific, which, of 
course, forfeited its charter as a road could not 
be built on account of the Civil War. Of course, 
he always believed, as do I, that the.present T. & 
P. Railroad is the same with the charter renewed 
and extended. 

Father enlisted in the war at the outset and 
served as first lieutenant in Captain A. J. Nichol- 
son's company. Colonel Young's regiment, 11th 
Texas. He served faithfully and true to the cause 
he honestly believed to be just and right in many 
a hard-fought battle, through prolonged dangers, 
sickness and hardships incident to a heroic, patri- 
otic soldier's life. He received a furlough at Cor- 
inth, Mississippi, on account of a breakdown in 
health. A short time after his arrival home the 
war was declared ended. Our cause lost, leaving 
an almost wrecked and ruined Southland, but our 
brave patriotic boys, who were fortunate enough 
to get through that bloody destructive war, at 
once on their arrival home set about rebuilding 
our country and shattered fortunes. 

Mother died the first year of the war. Two 
thousand head of cattle dwindled down to four 



72 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

hundred head and over sixty head of horses to 
twenty; four hundred head of hogs to forty, and 
one hundred head of sheep to fifteen, and as father 
had sold the most of his once-possessed thousands 
of acres from 25 cents up to $1.00 per acre, our 
personal effects and real estate had nearly all 
passed away like a dream, a shadow or a vapor. 
Truly, we are made to exclaim, 'Vanity, vanity, 
all is vanity," and perish with their using and it 
cut down like the flower and the grass and man 
goeth to his long home from whence no traveler 
ever returneth, and the mourners goeth about the 
streets; but such is life, we are in the midst of 
death, subject alike to joys, cares, bereavements, 
sin, sickness, temptation, misfortunes and sor- 
rows ; but with renewed faith, hope, fortitude and 
courage we look up, pressing upward and onward, 
ever realizing that to each dark cloud there is a 
silver lining, and that beyond the clouds the 
bright, golden, brilliant sun is gloriously and vigor- 
ously shining, reminding us that we shall meet 
again to part no more, where God's love and spirit 
is ever shining. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 73 



CHAPTER VI. 



JOHN TAYLOR ALLEN. 

The author and compiler of this book was born 
October 29th, 1840, at the homestead of his father, 
which was located six miles northwest of Honey 
Grove, in Fannin County, and on which homestead 
his father settled in 1838. School advantages in 
his boyhood were limited, and he grew up in a 
part of the world where there was not much ac- 
tivity. Being extremely sensitive as a youth, and 
conscious of his lack of education, he indulged in 
such education as close application and study of 
books and papers within his ability and grasp af- 
forded. Occasionally it was his privilege to attend 
the old hewed log school house, Allen's chapel, 
with its adobe chimney made of dirt and sticks, 
where he sat on seats made of logs split in the 
middle and in which large auger holes were bored 
for legs. There were no backs to the seats, and 
it was here that the major part of his early educa- 
tion was obtained, augmented at night by brush 
or tallow candle light in so far as he was able to 
get the opportunity from the demands on him for 
work about the home. It was not an easy matter 
then, nor were opportunities for inforination as 
easy to obtain what is now every child's privilege 
to get an education, but he had a thirst for knowl- 
edge and applied himself energetically, persever- 
ingly to the task before him, and made advance- 
ment as rapidly as he possibly could under the cir- 
cumstances. His father and mother encouraged 



74 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



him in his ambitions all they could and bought 
him such useful and helpful books as they were 
able to get. Mr. Allen did not get much chance to 
study ancient lore or the dead languages, but his 




"V^ 



'^\ 



^* ^ 




JOHN TAYLOR ALLEN 



words are the words of a living language, and he 
learned this living language under strenuous con- 
ditions ; conditions that tested the metal of a man, 
and by the results of the energies and industry of 
these men, made possible the freedom of speech 
and homes of happy families that we now enjoy. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 75 

Mr. Allen was not a book worm, even though 
he devoted so much of his time to. study and took 
delight in sports and hunting. The abundance of 
game abounding about him gave excellent oppor- 
tunities for his love of the chase after wild horses 
and deer. When but a mere child he was sent on 
errands, for he could ride a horse at an early age. 
It was a part of his duties as a lad to go to mill, 
the first one built by Uncle Dad Johnson, an ox 
mill in 1857 ; Mr. J. M. Wilhamson was then the 
mill hand. The home of his boyhood was a hewed 
log cabin of the primitive kind, among the first 
built in Fannin County. It's hard to realize it 
now, but there were no conveniences; the Hghts 
were made by candles or pine knots, the fireplaces 
and chimneys were not built of handsome fire- 
brick and tile, but folks in those days were happy 
v/ith hearths of timber and chimneys made of mud 
and held together with sticks, covering up the 
cracks and openings with plaster made of clay and 
pieces of wood pinned on with wooden pegs and 
heavy weight poles held the boards of the roof in 
place. The windows and doors were made of clap- 
boards and floors were made with boards sawed 
out by hand with a whip saw ; in most cases there 
were puncheon floors in the homes. They did not 
rest their heads in downy pillows, nor their bodies 
on feather beds, nor were there cosy rockers and 
sofas as we have them now. They had to get along 
with chairs and stools and benches made of rough 
lumber and rawhide strips; beds were made by 
placing one side of the bed on the logs in the wall 
and a round hole with upright posts set in auger 
holes on the other side, and laced with rawhide 



76 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

strips to make the place where could lay buffalo 
hides and stra^v to lie upon. But they slept as 
well and enjoyed their slumber as much and 
dreamt sweet, happy dreams of contentment as on 
any bed of luxury we now enjoy. The bedding and 
covers were all home-made, home-spun and corded 
and woven blankets, quilts and bed ticking was all 
made by industrious hands in their own homes. 
There were no gas stoves then either, not even 
the good old family range that the cooks today 
make such appetizing dishes on. In those days 
the cooks had to get along with a frying pan or 
skillet and coffee pots, and it was some time be- 
fore they could make suitable ovens to bake in, but 
the roasts of beef, pork, venison, bear and buffalo 
meat, not to overlook the fat turkey, quail and 
prairie chicken don't taste so good, nor do the 
fried squirrel and fish taste so good as they did 
when the youthful days of the pioneers were 
roughing it. 

Twice a year the sheep were sheared and then 
the folks would sit up late at night picking out 
the burrs and trash from the wool, then wash and 
card it and spin and weave it into cloth, from 
which clothing and bedding was made. The moth- 
er of the family, assisted by the negro servants, 
did this work, and it was good and durable, all 
vrool and no shoddy entered into the manufacture 
in those days. 

They tanned the hides of the cattle at the far- 
rier, Medlin and Green's red oak bark ooze tan 
yard. The upper and sole leather was used to 
make shoes, bridles and harness. The author of 
this book and his father, mother and brothers 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 77 

used to sit about the fireplace cobbling shoes and 
making straps and halters and other things, at 
the same time rehearsing experiences and adven- 
tures that they had gone through during their 
hunting expeditions. 

The table was always well provided with game 
of all kinds, and the deUcious breakfasts that was 
spread before the family when they arose in the 
early morning hours with nice hot biscuits and 
fine wild honey in abundance to spread upon them. 
As many as a dozen bee trees were known to the 
author of this book, and what deUght it was to 
cut these trees and extract the honey to spread 
on good buttered bread. Honey was very plentiful 
and was available the whole year round, ready for 
every festive or family need. 

There was plenty of rich, nutritious grass for 
the stock, and they kept fat and fine in summer 
and spring, and in winter they would be so fat 
that a tub of tallow was taken from a beef and it 
was not unusual, either. 

The cane breaks in the bottoms grew about as 
high and thick as a jungle, and it was impossible 
to detect thirty feet away, when the cane was 
shaking, whether the cause of the shaking was 
an Indian, an animal or a man, and white men 
used to have their guns cocked and ready for any 
emergency, prepared to triumph over whatever 
adversary may come out upon them. Hogs kept 
fat the year round on the wild grass most and 
needed no other feed; even the horses and riding 
stock were turned loose or lariated, and were 
strengthened and satisfied with the food that 
nature provided. The stock was turned loose with 



78 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

a bell on the leader to roam at will over night, and 
in the morning would be rounded up, harnessed, 
and put to work till 11. Then about 1 or 2 o'clock 
would resume the work of the day, preparing the 
ground or harvesting the crop that made possible 
the development of our farms of today. 

The beautiful wild flowers with their exquisite 
fragrance gave such a pleasant sense of admira- 
tion — emblematic of cheerfulness, peace and good 
will. May they ever be lavishly strewn along our 
path and may we rightly appreciate them for their 
angehc message to us as we hasten on our journey 
to the Great Beyond, where our loved ones and 
friends are waiting at the beautiful gate to wel- 
come us to our eternal home, where the trees of 
life are ever blooming and where the river of life 
flows freely, giving healing and joy and delight 
wherever it goes. Where the sun never sets, nor 
the leaves never fade, in that beautiful city whose 
pavements are of gold. Where no night, no sick- 
ness or distress can exist, but where peace, hap- 
piness, love and joy abound. No wilted boquets 
there, but beautiful blooms, fair and pure. 

Close to the flower is the honey bee, and no 
words can portray fittingly the ever-industrious 
bee. It flits from flower to flower, sips here a 
little and there a little, taking a little of the sweet 
from one and a little from another until it has 
succeeded in gathering its winter's store. What 
a lesson it gives to us all in patient industry, in 
economy, in persistency. 

As we judge the future by the past, and since 
coming events cast their shadows before them, and 
realizing that from the sweat of our face must 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 79 

we eat bread, let us apply ourselves to industry 
and labor, for labor will promote health and give 
us a long and happy hfe. It is too true that idle- 
ness is the devil's workshop and no one is wise 
who spends the hours with idle hands. If we 
would be contented and happy, let us be obedient 
to the call of Him who has honored labor and 
work. 

It was during the first year of the war— 1861— 
that the author, on the 15th day of April, was 
called on to witness his mother's deathbed; no, 
not her deathbed, it was her transitory bed. 
There is no death; what seems so is transition. 
She talked freely of her readiness to go to God in 
peace; not a cloud intervened between her God 
and the home He had prepared for her. Her only 
sorrow was to leave her little children, four of 
the seven were quite small, in this world so full 
of trials, temptations and pitfalls. She knew well 
the tendency and proness to err of the unguided 
mind and the ease with which temptation carries 
off the unwary, but her confidence in God was so 
great she committed them all to His keeping, pray- 
ing that He would prove a father to her orphans 
and finally bring them to himself. She fell sweet- 
ly asleep in Jesus; she had found the pearl of 
great price and entered into that glorious rest pre- 
pared and waiting for the children of God. 

The author is now Hving in the house in which 
he was born, which is a frame building, built in 
the year 1846, the framing of which was sawed 
out with a whip-saw. My three oldest brothers 
were born in the old pioneer log cabinet built in 
the year 1837. 



80 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

The others have gone, too, now, and father's 
words: "Taylor, my son, you can be useful; do 
away with enmity. I have no enmity in my heart 
against anyone," and after singing "Home, sweet 
home, my long-sought home," he passed over the 
river to be with Him who liveth and abideth for- 
ever. We cannot measure these ceaseless cycles 
of eternity; 'twould be easier to count the grains 
of sand carried by a bird to the outermost planet 
one at a time, but we can rejoice that God has so 
loved us as to prepare for us a home there where 
there is no limit to life. My father came to Texas 
from Tennessee in the spring of 1836. He was 
born August 1st, 1816, in Edgefield District, South 
Carolina. He went to Tennessee when he was just 
a mere lad of eight. When he was older he heard 
of the efforts of Texas to rid themselves of Span- 
ish yolk, and being of a patriotic turn of mind, 
cast his lot with the Lone Star State in company 
with Dr. Boyce and Everitt Harris. He expected 
to enlist with Sam Houston, but when he got here 
he found peace had been declared and Texas had 
gained her independence. He located on a 640- 
acre grant, which he proved up, and accumulated 
several thousand acres more; married Martha P. 
Nicholson in 1839, from which union nine children 
were born; three of them still live, myself and 
two sisters, one of whom lives at Crowell, Texas, 
who married Mr. Bart Fox ; the other at Newport, 
Oklahoma. 

The camp meetings we used to have in the brush 
arbor at the end of Allen's chapel — a hewed log 
church and school house — linger with me in de- 
lightful memories with scenes of joy and thanks- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 81 

giving. How the arbor used to ring with rever- 
berating sounds of shouts and songs, echo answer- 
ing echo, till the mighty sound of voices seem to 
cover all the regions round about. The people used 
to congregate from twenty to thirty miles away, 
coming in their ox wagons and on horseback and 
some afoot, to hear the welcome tidings of good 
cheer. Everyone was sociable and dressed in their 
home-spun garments in delightful simplicity and 
rustic honesty. The meetings would continue for 
weeks at a time and lasted till midnight usually. 
Many a soul found peace and rest at these meet- 
ings, and most of them are answering roll call now 
in the presence of Him who made it possible for 
us to have eternal joy. 

At these protracted meetings the fatted calf 
and beef were killed, and hogs, deer, bear and lib- 
eral feasts of plenty abounded, each vieing with 
each other to scatter liberally of their hospitality. 
No price was charged, no money asked ; everybody 
was welcome to partake freely both of the feast 
of the gospel and the feast of the table of food. 
As many as forty or fifty have been present at 
my father and mother's home, where we spread 
buffalo robes and home-spun cloth over the ground, 
and there they slept and enjoyed their slumber 
and undisturbed peace in enjoying the luxuries of 
spiritual fulness and physical fulness as well. 

J. T. Allen, the author of this book, and Miss 
Mary E. Hinch, were united in the holy bond of 
wedlock the 31st of March, in the year A. D. 1878. 
Unto this union were born seven children — four 
boys and three girls — all of whom are living except 
two — one son, Isaac Franklin, died November 8, 



82 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

1885, aged 1 year 11 months 1 days, and one 
daughter, Docia B. Allen, died April 13, 1886, aged 
5 months and 16 days. Sleep on, dear precious 
darlings, until the resurrection ; oh, then, we shall 
meet again, never to part again. Three sons and 
two daughters are still living ; the oldest daughter, 
who married J. S. Graham, have one child, a daugh- 
ter, now nearly grown ; they are living at Kief er, 
Oklahoma. Also two married sons, M. L. and 
J. C, and their families are living at Kiefer, Okla- 
homa. Our youngest son, W. I. Allen, aged 17 
years, still single, is living with us in the old home, 
a great help to his parents in their old, declining, 
afflicted years. One daughter. Bertha May, mar- 
ried Walter J. Shawhart, will soon be living at 
Kiefer, Oklahoma. They had one son and two 
daughters born unto them; one daughter died in 
infancy. 

May all the boys and girls of Texas appreciate 
their opportunities, privileges and conveniences, 
and realize that it was through the daring and 
adventures of these heroic men and women that 
the way was made for peaceful happy homes for 
the children of today. To those who so faithfully 
and sincerely performed their duty too high a 
tribute of respect cannot be paid. To Him who 
loved us and gave us the pearl of great price, to 
Him be praise for the lavish bestowal of such mag- 
nificence as we now have. We are hastily and 
rapidly passing to the end of our journey here; 
soon the race will be over, and may we meet in 
the brighter, happier home and have a great and 
grand reunion of the early settlers with the hosts 
that have followed after. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



83 



CHAPTER VII. 



LEM RAMSEY. 

Lem Ramsey was born in old Virginia August 
24, 1834. He remained in that country until he 
was eighteen and came with his father and family 
to Texas ; they settled in Fannin County, near Al- 



m^^ 




BETTIE RAMSEY 



LEMUEL RAMSEY 



ien's Chapel. He professed religion in 1854 or '55 
and joined the M. E. Church at Allen's Chapel on 
March 16, 1862; he married Bettie Saunders, of 
Grayson County, Texas ; they were playmates and 
schoolmates when they were children in Virginia. 
Soon after they married he joined the Confederate 
army. Sixteenth Texas Cavalry, Captain Wood's 
company, made up at Sherman, Texas. He made 
a good soldier, was in many hard-fought battles; 
he went through many hardships of cold, sleet. 



84 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

snow and rain; slept on the cold ground many 
nights with one blanket under and one over him • 
many times he was thinly clothed. Sometimes 
they would have to march for days and nights 
with but little to eat and hardly any sleep. Lem 
was taken prisoner in one battle and kept eleven 
days. The news came to his wife that he was 
killed, and she mourned his death during that 
time, but the eleventh day she received a letter 
written by him. You can only imagine the joy of 
that woman's heart when she got that letter. She 
felt like the dead was alive and the lost was found. 
In 1865 the war closed and Lem came home, 
sound and well. Times were hard then, and there 
was hardly any money in the country. He had 
forty acres of land with a log cabin, it having just 
one room with stick and dirt chimney. He took a 
saw and drawing knife and a few nails and made 
three chairs and a bedstead ; they borrowed a fry- 
ing pan, skillet and lid, with which they went to 
housekeeping in the little log cabin. I have heard 
them say they spent the happiest days of their 
lives in that cabin, as they were both strong and 
well and trying to live as Christians. They went 
to work and soon got a little start ; in a few years 
they built a new house, and lived there until his 
father's and mother's deaths. Then he got posses- 
sion of his father's old home, where they lived the 
remainder of his life. During this time they 
raised ten children, six boys and four girls. Jen- 
nie married Tom Johnson; they live near Roxton, 
Lamar County ; have five children, all grown. Ella 
married Lige Cravens ; she died, leaving two chil- 
dren, Overton and Edith, who were raised by 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 85 

Grandfather and Grandmother Ramsey ; they are 
grown and still live with their grandmother. Wal- 
ter married Tennie Crabb; they live at Farmers- 
ville, and have two little girls. Herbert married 
Ula Brown, who died, he then marrying Lizzie 
Roberts ; they have six children, and live at Chil- 
dress, Texas. Joe married Sally Cole; they have 
seven children, and Hve at Vernon, Texas. Tom 
married Hardin Watson; they have two children, 
and live at Bantam, Texas. Elmer married Effice 
Craddoc ; they have one little girl, and hve at Lone 
Oak, Texas. Annie married L. D. Terrell; they 
have one little girl, and Hve at Vernon, Texas. 
Susie married Sam B. Lock : they Hve near the old 
home. Nute is single and hves with his old 
mother. 

Lem Ramsey was a good man, good citizen, a 
very devoted husband, a kind, loving father and 
a true Christian ; he loved his church, in which he 
was steward and Sunday school superintendent 
a good part of his married life. He loved to do 
any kind of church work, and never failed to go 
to the quarterly conference as long as he was able ; 
he would have his children take him to church and 
Sunday school when he was so feeble he could 
hardly sit up all day. 

In the spring of 1910 his health began to fail; 
he gradually grew worse, and on September 1st he 
passed away. He was seventy-six years and seven 
days old. His wife is still living at the old home, 
but is very feeble. 



86 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER VIII. 



JACOB RAMSEY. 

Jacob Ramsey was born in old Virginia, Pitt- 
sylvania County, in 1812, and was raised in that 
county. In 1833 he married Miss Barbara Ram- 
sey, a distant relative ; they raised eight children, 
five girls and three boys. They had a nice httle 
home, but that old country was poor and thickly 
settled, it taking hard work and close economy to 
make a living. He decided he would move to 
Texas, and in October. 1852, they started in 
wagons. They were on the road about two months ; 
they landed in Fannin County, near Allen's Chapel. 
He stopped at his brother-in-law's, Armsted Ram- 
sey, who was very sick, and who died a few days 
later. Then Uncle Jake rented land near Meade 
Springs, living there one year. In 1854 he bought 
a farm near Allen's Chapel, from Tolbert Myers. 
The improvements on the place were a log house, 
partly finished. He and his boys went to work 
and soon had a good house, good stables and cribs ; 
the farm in good shape and were raising crops. 

He was a hard working man and a very suc- 
cessful farmer. He and his good wife were mem- 
bers of the Baptist church when they were young. 
After they settled here they joined the church at 
Vineyard Grove and were faithful Christians and 
loyal to their church. They had a nice family of 
children, nearly all members of the church. They 
had a happy home, and many of the old preachers 
who preached at Vineyard Grove loved to come 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 87 

to Brother Ramsey's and eat dinner and stay all 
night, and have a good religious feast with that 
good family. Everybody around loved to come to 
Uncle Jake's, being known as "Uncle Jake" for 
many years. 

The children all married and settled not far 
from them, and they would often come home and 
have a family reunion. The grandchildren thought 
grandpa's was the grandest place on earth, the 
old folks were so patient and good to them. The 
old folks went to heaven thirty years ago. The 
children are all gone, but there are many grand- 
children here who love and cherish the memory of 
dear old Grandpa and Grandma Ramsey and the 
sacred old home. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER IX. 



J. E. DEUPREE. 

I was born on November 22, A. D. 1840, in 
Pickens County, Alabama, where both my par- 
ents died during my infancy and childhood. 

In 1847 I was brought to Texas with a large 
company of my near relatives, led by my grand- 
father, Colonel Nathan Smith, who had served 
in the Creek War under General Andrew Jackson, 
and also in the Alabama Legislature. They all 
settled in Harrison County, near Marshall. 

Later, my uncles. Colonel Gid Smith and Dr. J. 
C. Smith (my guardian) moved to Fannin County, 
the former in 1851, and the latter in 1853. I first 
saw Fannin County in 1852, when Dr. Smith sent 
me and others with a herd of cattle to Colonel 
Smith, they then being partners in the stock busi- 
ness. 

In Fannin County a good part of my youth was 
spent on the Smith farms on Red River, now 
owned by John E. Roach and J. E. Spies. During 
parts of the years 1854-5 I was in the old McKen- 
zie Institute, near Clarksville. In 1856 I went to 
school to the lamented Ben Fuller in Bonham ; but 
I was mainly educated in Baylor University, then 
located at Independence in Washington County, 
Texas, where I graduated in 1859. 

In 1861 I was at the law school in Lebanon, 
Tenn. When the war broke out and broke up the 
school, I went on a visit to relatives in Noxube 
County, Miss., thinking to return home via Mo- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



89 



bile, New Orleans and Jefferson. But in Missis- 
sippi I found the whole country aflame with ex- 
citement over the great impending war. The boys 




OLD DELAWARE RATS 

Reading from left to right: J. E. Denpaee; aged 73 years; J. E. Log- 
gins, aged 69 years; H. W. Graber, age 72 years. Taken on Oct. 18, J 910. 

were forming companies, and the pretty girls 
were giving picnics, and threatening to send hoop- 
skirts to all who failed to join the Southern army. 
So I soon caught the war fever, and on the urgent 
solicitations of my gallant cousins, I joined the 



90 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

**Noxube Cavalry/* which later became Company 
G of the First Mississippi Cavalry, on the firm 
promise from the captain (H. W. Foote) that I 
should have a transfer if I ever found a Texas 
company that suited me. 

I served with those gallant Mississippi boys 
twenty months, being with them in the great bat- 
tles of Bellmont, Shiloh, Corinth. Britton's Lane 
and many smaller engagements. On January 1st, 
1863, I was transferred to a cavalry company in 
WauPs Texas Legion, which (^ompany was from 
Washington County, and contained several of my 
old Baylor schoolmates. 

I served with this Texas company until June 
17, 1863, when, by mistaking foes for friends in 
the darkness of night, I was captured near Pa- 
nola, Miss. I was then kept in prison for twenty- 
three months, most of the time at Alton, 111., and 
Fort Delaware. This long confinement was by far 
the most trying part of my war service. I never 
could feel contented in prison, but kept planning 
and trying to escape until I finally succeeded. 

In one of these efforts I, with five other Texas 
boys, swam the bay from Fort Delaware to the 
Delaware shore, on the night of July 1, 1864. I 
was the only unlucky man in the bunch, as I was 
re-captured and carried back to the fort, while 
the others made good their escape and safely re- 
joined the Southern army. One of this crowd 
was Ed Welch of Honey Grove, who was killed in 
one of the last battles of the war. Strange to say, 
three of these nocturnal swimmers kept together 
clear across the bay, and, landing in a perfectly 
nude state, they wended their way southward, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 91 

hiding by day and marching by night, for there 
were six who would undertake this dark and dan- 
gerous undertaking with the hope of finding 
friendly shelter among the good Southern people 
of Maryland. I have never heard how the other 
two fared en route ; I only know that, like myself, 
they became separated from the others and that 
separately they reached the Southern lines. Of 
the 150 Texans at Fort Delaware, there were only 
six who would undertake this dark and danger- 
ous swim, and of this six there are now only two 
alive, viz., Dr. J. C. Loggins of Ennis and myself. 
For the first time since we parted on that dreadful 
night at Fort Delaware, I met Dr. Loggins, by 
agreement, at the Dallas Fair, three years ago; 
and we sure had a glorious good time, being guests 
at the elegant and hospitable home of Gen. H. W. 
Graber, another old Fort Delaware prisoner. 
While there we had our pictures taken together, 
and as you have asked for my picture, I send this 
group, it being the only one I have of convenient 
size for sending, and as owing to the bad roads I 
can't tell when I will be able to find an artist. 

After the aforesaid swimming episode, I still 
continued my eflforts to escape from Fort Dela- 
ware, and finally I succeeded by getting myself 
exchanged on the name of a dead man, for whose 
command a special exchange had been arranged. 
I left Fort Delaware on April 10th, 1865, and on 
May 10th was exchanged at the mouth of Red 
River, under the name of E. Wood, of Gordon's 
Arkansas Regiment. At this time Waul's Legion 
had already surrendered east of the Mississippi, 
and as the Western Department had also surren- 



92 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

dered when we reached Shreveport, we were sim- 
ply turned loose and told to go home, which we did 
at our own expense, and as best we could. I 
reached home on June 7, 1865, about the same 
time that the other prisoners whom I had left 
behind were released from Fort Delaware. 

Yes, I knew your good old father well, as did 
most of the old settlers of Fannin County. ''Uncle 
Wilce," as we called him, was indeed a grand old 
man. I have met him often in Bonham ; also once 
at Red River, and at my own home, and at the 
State meetings of the Texas veterans at Paris and 
Sherman. He was utterly void of vanity, and was 
one of the most interesting and impressive men 
that I ever heard talk. He was much like old 
Judge Simpson in this respect, and they both re- 
minded me of old Gen. Sam Houston, who I often 
saw and heard during my school boy days at Bay- 
lor University. There was weight and wisdom in 
their words, love in their hearts, and music in 
their voices, and hence their hearers were always 
fond admirers. I never knew your father to loose 
his temper or urbanity, but he was sure emphatic 
on the subject of reconstruction. And he could 
picture to perfection the words, ways and looks 
of the negroes who once bossed our elections in 
Bonham; and he would grow warm when talking 
of the general trend toward the confiscation of 
our homes, and the destruction of our liberties. 
He and other old heroes (too many to name here) 
favored moderation and a reliance on civil meas- 
ures. They urged us to take the oath, and quali- 
fy as voters, and when the militia was forming 
under E. J. Davis, they told us all to join in, and 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 93 

capture the organization, which we did; and the 
mihtia companies of Fannin County were all offi- 
cered by true Southern men and never could have 
been used for the oppression of our people. 

If I were asked at what time in life I had ren- 
dered the most efficient service to my country, I 
could readily answer that it was during the dark 
days of reconstruction. 

Yes, dear reader, it was the unflinching brav- 
ery of the Confederate soldiers, curbed and guided 
by the cooler judgment of older heads, that res- 
cued our State from carpet-bag rule, and restored 
popular government throughout the South. 

If God did not favor the South during the war. 
He has certainly done so since, and now we re- 
joice in the fact that the great American Union is 
reunited on a firmer, broader, and better basis 
than ever before. 



94 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER X. 



DR. JOHN CUNNINGHAM, 

Ravenna, Fannin County, Texas. 

This pioneer was born midst the dark green 
valleys of old Kentucky on the 21st day of Sep- 
tember, 1836. In the early days of his youth he 
labored in the fields of corn and tobacco along 
with the colored servants. His education consist- 
ed of a training in the subscription schools of 
Trigg County and later in the Bethel College at 
Russellville, Kentucky, where he earned his own 
way through. He studied medicine in Pope's Med- 
ical College in St. Louis. After practicing a year 
the war broke out and he enlisted as a soldier of 
the Confederacy, where he commanded a com- 
pany at Shiloh. 

After the war, some two years, he started for 
Texas, landing at Jefferson, Texas, early in March 
of 1867, on board the steamer Frolic, from New 
Orleans, La., where, being without money, he was 
compelled to walk from Jefferson to Old Warren, 
in Fannin County, about 140 miles. A caravan 
of five or six wagon teams were heading for 
Weatherford, in Parker County, who were haul- 
ing flour down into Fannin County at Bonham. 
The road led through an open prairie almost the 
entire distance, and on the way we passed through 
Sherman, which was then a small town of about 
500 people. Fort Worth was then, when we were 
on our way through there, only a town of 300 
souls, and Pilot Point, in Denton County, about a 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



95 



hundred people, while at Bean's Station there was 
only a handful. When we reached Weatherford 
we found a town of four or five hundred, where 
there were two old-time flouring mills. Most of 




DR. JNO. CUNNINGHAM AND VALET. JNO. REEVES 

Taken at Austin, 1812. 

the grain raised in this section of Texas was 
wheat. The few settlers along the road lived in 
pole or log cabins, occasionally one or two rooms 
would be finished with pine planks hauled in 
wagons from Eastern Texas, two or three hun- 



96 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

dred miles away. The settlements on the road 
were ten or fifteen miles apart, each house hav- 
ing an enclosure of about fifteen acres, where they 
raised wheat or corn or kept a cow lot, though 
they scarcely ever had a garden. Cattle and 
horses could be seen in every direction, and jack 
rabbits, wild turkeys and prairie chickens were 
abundant everywhere. Deer was plentiful, but 
mostly in the cross timbers, while wolves, wild 
cats and prairie dogs held high carnival at night. 
The elk and buffalo moved westward as man ap- 
proached, and the blood-thirsty savage, with his 
tomahawk, bows and arrows, and later the deadly 
rifle, receded, leaving a trail of blood along his 
path. 

Upon my arrival in Fannin in March, 1867, I 
found the following towns: Bonham, the capital, 
with a population of five or six hundred souls. 
The prairie grass surrounded the town almost 
waist high. On the north side it almost ap- 
proached the present plaza. Honey Grove came 
next in size, with a population of about three 
hundred; Ladonia third, with a population of 
about one hundred fifty; Orangeville, Kentucky- 
town and Coontown were only respectable broad 
places in the roads. Bonham, Honey Grove and 
Ladonia have held their own and grown to be re- 
spectable towns and small cities. But since that 
date many towns and villages have almost, as if 
by magic, sprung up in various parts of the coun- 
ty, as follows: Leonard, Trenton, Savoy, Win- 
dom, Dodd City, Monkstown, Telephone, Tulip, 
Ivanhoe, Ector, Ravenna, Randolph, Edhube, 
Bailey, Lamasco, Hudsonville, Carson, Lanius, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 97 

Bantz, Self and Needmore, all flourishing young 
towns and villages ranging in population (we sup- 
pose) from 200 to 2,000, Leonard leading. There 
were no railroads then nearer than Hempstead, 
two hundred miles south, but now the county is 
passed through by the Texas & Pacific, Cotton Belt 
and M. K. & T. enters the county from Denison 
by Ravenna to Bonham. The population of Texas 
at that time (1867) was 600,000, but now it is 
over 4,000,C00 and growing rapidly. Fannin 
County then had only about 13,000 population, and 
now has some 60,000 or 70,000 and rapidly absorb- 
ing more through immigration and home produc- 
tion. 

The doctor, after making this trip, borrowed a 
wild mustang from Dr. A. H. Henry — one of na- 
ture's noblemen — and began the practice of medi- 
cine without a dollar in his pocket, having pro- 
cured his medical supplies by pawning his army 
pistol to a druggist named Gray, in Bonham, and 
for thirty years practiced among the people, the 
pauper and the well-to-do, whether he was paid 
for his services or not he treated all alike. 

Four years after landing in Texas he was elect- 
ed, over five other better men than he, for the 
13th Legislature, in 1872 — the year Horace Greely 
ran for the presidency. One of the proudest 
votes he cast in the 13th Legislature was when he 
voted for Hon. John Ireland's bill, giving one-half 
the public domain of Texas to the free school chil- 
dren of the State, amounting to over one hundred 
million dollars. In the same Legislature he had 
incorporated into the free school curriculum a 
work on anatomy, physiology and hygiene, which 



98 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

is still used by the schools. The work of the 13th 
Legislature turned the State over to the Demo- 
cratic party in 1874, and it has remained there 
ever since. In 1900 the doctor was re-elected to 
the Legislature of the State of Texas by a plu- 
rality of fifteen hundred votes over two opponents, 
and again re-elected in 1902 over his opponents by 
two thousand. Upon the winding up of that Legis- 
lature they presented him with a gold-headed 
ebony cane. His wife thought it was worth $500 
— the doctor never told her any better. 

Since the doctor has been in Texas he not only 
has been engaged in the practice of medicine, but 
has also been engaged in farming, merchandising 
and in the cattle business and made a reasonable 
success out of all of them. In 1912, at the age of 
77, the people of Fannin County called on the doc- 
tor to stand for a fourth term in the Legislature. 
He consented and was opposed by a better man 
than the doctor— so the man said in the race. 
Early in the doctor's campaign, one evening as 
the shades of night came on he stepped from a 
porch, thinking it a foot and a half to the ground, 
but when he landed the distance proved to be 
three and a half feet. In landing, the doctor re- 
ceived a broken hip bone, from which he suffers 
today, having to travel in a push chair, but is one 
of the most regular attendants in the House. He 
goes to the House in the morning and remains 
until taking out time at night. John Reeves, his 
colored valet, goes to his boarding house and 
brings his dinner, which he eats upon his desk. 

The doctor, after serving in four Legislatures, 
does not hesitate to say that the present House is 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 99 

superior to all the Legislatures in which he has 
served (and the accomplished Speaker, Chester 
Terrell, may have had some equals, but never a 
superior) except the old Thirteenth, all of whom, 
except about forty Republicans, were men who 
wore the gray, and served in times that tried 
men's souls, and their acts and their votes gave 
the second freedom to Texas. Sam Houston, in 
the battle of San Jacinto, freed Texas first from 
Mexican subordination. Reconstruction, through 
the acts and laws of scalawags, carpet-baggers, 
coffee-coolers. State police and the Twelfth Legis- 
lature, which was composed of a large majority of 
Republicans and colored politicians, the people of 
Texas had become almost enslaved again. Through 
the action of the Thirteenth Legislature, assisted 
by a few noble-hearted Repubhcans in the Senate, 
one of whom was the Honorable Web Flanagan, a 
leader with a great big heart, Texas, received her 
second freedom. The doctor thinks the Thirty- 
third House to be a superior body of men. They 
all seem to have their individuality. They do their 
own voting. They are not swayed by United 
States Senators, the Governor or any one else but 
their own conscience. When they believe the Gov- 
ernor is right they endorse him; when they be- 
lieve the Governor is wrong they oppose him, just 
like the Governor does the House, showing that 
both have their individuality and use their own 
minds. The doctor is proud to say that all the 
acts of the former Legislatures in which he served 
were generally approved by the people of the 
State. He trusts that the 33rd may occupy the 
same proud position. Almost every member of 



100 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

the House is a pretty fair orator; many of them 
are first-class, with the exception of the old doctor. 
Some of them are really eloquent and are fit sub- 
jects for Congressional or United States Senatorial 
timber in the future. There is a fair sprinkling 
of young men in the House, mostly from what was 
once the wild and wooly west, but they are all up- 
to-date, up-headed young men of above average 
ability. They are nearly all good speakers. The 
Legislature seems to have great progressive ways, 
passing laws with advanced ideas demanded by 
the people. As time rolls on and scientific prog- 
ress and the world moves forward, new and pro- 
gressive laws will be demanded and will be given 
by future Legislatures, just as they are doing to- 
day. 

The doctor believes, owing to the great natu- 
ral turn in political affairs and the election of 
Woodrow Wilson to the presidency, the disposi- 
tion to enforce the Sherman and other anti-trust 
laws, the nation has taken on a new lease of life. 
It seems that things are now working on the 
Lord's side and the interest of the great mass of 
plain people of this great country. 

The doctor does not endorse the treason, brib- 
ery and political corruption and murder of their 
rulers, practiced by our sister republic of Mexico. 
It seems that Mexico has fallen into the hands of 
men that know very little about Republican gov- 
ernment. It seems like a great mass of people in 
Mexico had rather make a living by war than 
labor. Should Mexico only demonstrate the fact, 
and it seems like she almost has, that some other 
means should be set on foot giving her a better 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 101 

form of government. The Monroe Doctrine cuts 
off all European nations from helping Mexico. 
America claims to rule the roost over all Ameri- 
can nationalities. Many believe that the opening 
has been made in Mexico for Uncle Sam to try his 
hand, should he and his patriotic sons so desire. 

In the Twenty-eighth Legislature the doctor 
had the life-size portrait of that great jurist, 
statesman, diplomat and most eloquent orator 
placed on the walls of the House. We mean Judge 
Alexander W. Terrell. It happened this way : The 
judge had invited the doctor to dinner with him. 
He saw the portrait. He decided immediately 
that that picture should grace the walls of the 
House. That evening, without consulting the 
judge, he wrote a resolution consummating the 
same. The resolution was introduced and carried 
unanimously — hence the judge's portrait on the 
walls of the great Capitol he had planned and 
caused to be erected. 



102 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



CHAPTER XI. 



CAPTAIN A. J. NICHOLSON. 

Captain Nicholson was born in 1831 and emi- 
grated to Texas from Arkansas in 1837, with his 
father, six brothers and two sisters. One of these 
sisters — Martha P. Nicholson — was the mother of 
the compiler of this book. She married my fa- 
ther, W. B. Allen, in 1838. 

Captain Nicholson was a brave, active and fear- 
less Indian fighter, and had many an encounter 
with the ferocious wild beasts. In 1848, Decem- 
ber 20th, he married Miss T. C. Parishin, (born 
1832). From this union there were born seven 
children, four girls and three boys. All grew to 
mature age, except one, who died in infancy. The 
Captain followed as a vocation the life of a stock 
raiser and farmer, and was very successful. 
When the call of Sam Houston was made for vol- 
unteers to deliver Texas from the Mexican yoke 
he enlisted and served with honor and distinction 
in the war, making many a hard, forced march, 
and hazarding his life in the effort to establish 
freedom, liberty and independence in Texas, the 
homeland — land of the free and home of the brave. 
He fought at Monterey, Buena Vista and San Ja- 
cinto, in bloody battles, shooting in such rapid suc- 
cession that the barrel of his gun was always hot. 
His disposition was to be humorous and jolly, and 
the camp-fire enjoyed his mirth, and the com- 
pany was thrilled with laughter by his joviality, 
and the relation of merry anecdotes. General 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



103 



Santa Anna, the Mexican general, learned to fear 
the cowboy warwhoops of our Texas cowboys 
when going to battle — the cry, "Remember the 
Alamo," "Remember Goliad," was always fresh. 




CAPT. A. J. NICHOLSON 

They never forgot how brave David Crockett and 
the brave heroes of the Alamo were slain by the 
cruel Santa Anna and his hosts. Nor did they 
forget the noble Fannin, whose name our county 
bears. 

Capt. Nicholson was hospitable and charitable. 



104 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

No needy person was ever turned away who ap- 
plied to him for help. His delight in helping 
those with whom he had to do, and many a heart 
and hand found life easier because of his good 




MRS T. C. NICHOLSON 

offices. God blessed and prospered him in basket 
and store, and he gave of his abundance, both in 
means and service. When the Civil War broke 
out he volunteered and enlisted in Colonel Young's 
11th Texas Regiment, as captain; served honor- 
ably and well, was badly wounded in the Elkhom 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 105 

engagement and taken prisoner for a considerable 
time ; finally exchanged and came home to recuper- 
ate. He afterwards joined Col. BowHns' regiment 
and served to the close of the war. After the war 
and the cause he espoused being a lost one, he 
himself penniless, his negroes set free, and his 
stock gone, but he did not lose heart, and proceed- 
ed to regain, as thousands of others did, his lost 
fortunes. His cheering, encouraging ways and his 
voice is now stilled. 

He sleeps in the beautiful grove where oft he 
chased the fleet-footed deer in the days of long 
ago. Here beneath the crumbling clods sleeps one 
of nature's true noblemen. There is sorrow in the 
old homestead, there is grief in the quiet com- 
munity where he dwelt, there is regret to the ut- 
most bounds of his acquaintance. 

His death was a bitter blow to those who loved 
him, and they were many. Illness had deprived 
him of a consciousness of the presence of his loved 
ones, who, like shadows, lingered at the couch of 
death, and with a tenderness whose every touch 
was a prayer of love, ministered to the last wishes 
of the dying man. He had passed through life's 
vernal spring, through golden summer and russet 
autumn, into winter and its deep snows, yet not 
by the calendars can such a life be measured. His 
life is longest whose memory is thickest set with 
scenes sweet to dwell upon when daylight fades 
and the last rays of sunset crown the hills in glory, 
and for Capt. Nicholson there was a retrospection 
studded with a gem for every passing day. He 
was happiest when contributing to the happiness 
of his fellow-man. Poverty, ne'er plead before 



106 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

him in vain; those who knew him best tell of the 
heavy demands made on his charity in pioneer 
days, but never of an instance when he refused to 
share his bounty with the needy. The distressed 
sought him and found a friend in adversity's hour ; 
the sorrowing came and found a balm for every 
ill. 

He has passed away; nature's vital chord was 
disengaged and he sleeps ; it is appointed unto all 
once to die, and in turn we take our place in death's 
silent chamber. But memory does not fade, and 
there is a sorrow for loved ones that time cannot 
root from the heart. The love that survives the 
tomb is the noblest attribute of the soul. When 
the overwhelming mist of grief is lulled into the 
gentle tear of recollection, the convulsive agonies 
over the ruins of all we most loved are softened 
away into meditation of all that it was in the days 
of its loveliness. There is a voice from the tomb 
that is sweeter than song, a remembrance of the 
dead to which we turn even from the charm of 
living. 

REMINISCENCES OF A. J. NICHOLSON. 

Captain A. J. Nicholson was a member of the 
legislative body at Austin in 1861 that passed the 
ordinance of secession; and backing his faith by 
his works, was one of the first to volunteer when 
war was decided on, and was in continuous service 
till the surrender except when incapacitated by a 
wound received at the battle of Pea Ridge in 1862. 

A member of his old company recently re- 
marked that the Captain was always a just and 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 107 

impartial man and if he had to decide a question 
of anything like equal merits between a relative 
or intimate friend and a comparative stranger, the 
decision would always be made in favor of the 
stranger. This was to avoid the imputation of 
favoritism or partiality. This trait of his char- 
acter was fully illustrated in his first race for the 
Legislature as representative for Fannin County. 
It was back in the '50s and he made the race as a 
Democrat, and was opposed by Col. Bob Taylor, 
of Bonham, the Whig candidate. The parties were 
about equally divided and the result doubtful till 
the last. On the day of election a voter, not know- 
ing to whom he was speaking, asked Nicholson to 
assist him in making out his ticket. The request 
was complied with, and the voter's choice of can- 
didates were left on the ticket till they came to 
representative. The voter on being told of the 
nature of the two candidates, remarked: "I am 
not acquainted with either of the candidates, and 
will leave the selection to you if you have any 
choice." "All right," replied Nicholson, *T will 
leave Taylor's name on the ticket," and scratching • 
his own name off completed the ticket. When the 
returns were all in Taylor was elected by three 
votes. 

Years afterwards these two were again pitted 
against each other for the same office, when 
Nicholson easily won the race. 

Capt. A. J. Nicholson came to Texas with his 
parents in 1837, stopping in Lamar County. One 
year later his father moved to this county, settling 
near Meade Springs, at the spot now known as 
the Stephen's place. Captain Nicholson served 



108 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

six years in the State Legislature, and was often 
urged to seek other and more lucrative positions, 
but he positively refused to do so, preferring the 
quiet life of his farm. His last illness was long 
and severe, death resulting from paralysis of the 
brain. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



109 



CHAPTER XII. 



JOE SPENCE. 

In 1838 a young fellow, with a humorous and 
adventuresome disposition, bold and brave, came 




UNCLE JOE SPENCE. Honey Grove. Texas 



to Texas to make his home. He came from South 
Carolina; he was Uncle Joe Spence. Uncle Joe 
was not an ordinary man in the sense of being 



110 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

uninteresting or unattractive in conduct and 
speech, but was vivacious, humorous and a good 
conversationalist. He had an excellent memory 
and could spill more yarns and stories and make 
everyone around him jolly and gay. He was like 
the sunshine after a cold, wet rain, and so light- 
hearted and gay and jovial that he was twice 
happy who had the good fortune to be associated 
with him. How charming were the times when 
Uncle Joe would come to the home of my parents, 
and how my boy chums and playmates would de- 
light themselves as Uncle Joe would entertain the 
older folks, especially at Christmas. The darkies, 
our trusty servants, would make special efforts to 
get through their work to hear Uncle Joe tell of 
his experiences in dealing with the wily savage 
or thrilling experiences and encounters with wild 
beasts. Uncle Joe told us once how he made his 
first attempt at raising crops. He had cleared a 
small patch of new ground, put a brush fence 
around it, and afterwards used big heavy rails. 
In the patch he planted corn, peas and pumpkins. 
Scarcely had he got a good start when the deer, 
coons, squirrels and bears began to help them- 
selves to his crop. The Indians looked on, too, 
with longing eyes, and about the time he was 
about to enjoy the fruits of his labor the blood- 
curdling yell of the savages burst in on his peace 
and began to devastate the little patch he had so 
carefully husbanded. Frequently he was obliged 
to seek the shelter of his stoutly built log cabin 
and through the loopholes he had specially pre- 
pared pepper the Indians with his faithful, tried 
and true rifle. In this way many of the Indians 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 111 

were silenced forever, and many a time my father, 
W. B. Allen, and other brave pioneers helped to 
drive the pestiferous pilferers away. 

The way Uncle Joe got rid of the coons and the 
droll and interesting manner he explained it are 
reminiscences I cannot help but think are novel. 
He made a fire pan light to shine the coons' eyes 
by tying a frying pan handle to a pole and setting 
fire to rich pine knots, put them in the pan and 
flash them in the eyes of the coon, then blaze 
away with his flint-lock shotgun, and the coons 
would drop in multitudes, while those that could 
would scatter helter skelter in every direction in 
their haste to get away. His bear and coon dogs 
followed up the chase until they found a big hollow 
tree, about forty feet high, that had been broken 
by a big storm. The tree was about four feet 
wide, and into this hollow the coons tried to hide, 
their tails, in a conspicuous heap, hanging out 
at the opening near the ground. Here a battle 
royal ensued until the bear and coon dogs had 
dispatched the pest, and their hides were hastily 
taken and loaded later for the market with bear, 
buffalo, panther, deer and wolf skins, and set on 
pack ponies to be taken to Sam Fulton's store, on 
White River, Arkansas, a distance of about eighty- 
five miles 

On another occasion Uncle Joe, my father, and 
a few friends were exploring and seeking a place 
to locate claims, which they had a right to do, 
after they had journeyed through a beautiful 
country over very rich fertile lands, pitched their 
camp. After being out about the third day Uncle 
Joe took a bucket to get some water while the 



112 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

others were making ready to fix the camp. Pass- 
ing over to an adjoining hill, he found a fine gurg- 
ling spring of pure, cold water, bursting out of 
gravel and boulders. While he was filling his 
bucket he noted the numerous tracks from moc- 
casined feet and an innumerable quantity of 
animal tracks, evidencing that this was the water- 
ing place for a considerable surrounding country. 
Suddenly he was aroused by the unearthly yell of 
a host of bloodthirsty savages. Summoning his 
courage, he bravely faced his foe and defiantly 
held himself in an attitude of defense. The In- 
dians, admiring his courage, said they did not want 
to kill brave man. The chief came forward, pat- 
ting him on the back, said: "Much heap brave 
white man," ''White man make heap good chief," 
"He whip big Indian tribes if he be their chief." 
The Indians camped there one night, then went 
on their journey, following next day on their nar- 
row, meandering trail, chanting as they went their 
weird war songs. As they journeyed on they oc- 
casionally encountered buffalo, bear or deer, and 
when hungry would take their bows and arrows, 
lances and tomahawks and scalping knives and 
eat ravenously the raw meat of their victims as 
quickly as they were skinned. Uncle Joe was taken 
with them and his days were sad and lonely, as 
he contemplated that he would probably never see 
his friends again, as he was being taken farther 
and farther away from them. Probably he would 
be killed and scalped, and his Texas friends and 
Carolina friend would never know what had be- 
fallen him. The Indians were surprised one day 
to see in the distance what seemed to be smoke, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 113 

but which proved to be a cloud of dust ascending 
upward to the skies. Quickly they discovered the 
cause was a monster rush of stampeded wild 
horses and other animals rushing like the wind 
toward them, like a mighty avalanche. Seeing the 
imminent danger, the Indians and brave Uncle Joe 
courageously prepared to give resistance and de- 
fend themselves against the onrushing beasts. 
They were almost on them and the blinding dust 
made breathing difficult. The plan agreed on was 
to kill the leaders in the hope that the others 
would divide and thus prevent them from being 
crushed to death. Uncle Joe, taking deliberate 
aim, brought down the biggest buffalo leader and 
the Indians did their share well, and the result 
was that they escaped the death which seemed 
certain to be upon them. After feasting on the 
carcasses of the animals they had slain they pro- 
ceeded to the mountain ranges through the val- 
leys and rough, rocky roads till they reached the 
top of one of the highest ones, from which they 
could have a view for miles away. Camping, the 
Indians compelled Uncle Joe to carry wood and 
water, imposing heavy burdens almost unbearable. 
Uncle Joe was ever on the alert for an opportunity 
to escape, but the watchful eyes of the squaws 
and spies made it impossible. After the cheerful 
fire of the blazing logs, which the cold night air 
made doubly agreeable, the Indians fell to sleep, 
while poor Uncle Joe, suffering from cold and 
dread and apprehension, not knowing what the In- 
dains intended to do with him and having a sense 
of his helplessness and loneliness, sat dejectedly 
near, though not able to enjoy the comforts of 



114 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

the fire. In the morning, after a night of stupor 
and unrest, he discerned the Indians pointing and 
jabbering over a large iron-bound whisky barrel 
that had been left by some white men who had 
camped there. The Indians proceeded to loosen 
the hoops and broke out the head, then rushed 
and violently took Uncle Joe and crammed him 
in the barrel, put on the head, and after giving 
their fiendish yell, went off and left him there to 
die. In his dilemma poor Uncle Joe revolved in 
his mind the good and the bad he had done in his 
life; cramped as he was there was little hope of 
escape and no hope of escape seemed possible. 
The only way he could get fresh air to breathe 
was through the bunghole. No one who has never 
been in a like position can appreciate the torture 
he had to bear. After he had been in the barrel 
some time a large number of wolves, bears and 
panthers came to feed upon the carcasses left by 
the Indians after they had broken camp. In their 
efforts to get the remnants the beasts began to 
fight. The howling, snarling and barking beasts 
made a hideous noise, so fierce as to make poor 
Uncle Joe's flesh creep. Two big black wolves got 
into a terrific battle and jumped and fell over each 
other beside the barrel in which Uncle Joe was 
a prisoner. One of the big wolves, in switching 
his tail, got it stuck through the bunghole of the 
barrel and Uncle Joe snatched it with a grip like 
a drowning man catching a straw. The big wolf, 
in his rage, went bounding over rocks and hills 
until the strain on the barrel loosened the hoops 
and the staves gave way,, with Uncle Joe rolling 
down the hillside, but fortunately he had escaped 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 115 

from his prison and he was overjoyed over his 
good fortune. He said it seemed to him as though 
he had rolled over a mile before he could gather 
together his senses, and with difficulty he picked 
up his bruised and mangled body, glanced about 
at the bewildered beasts about him who slunk away 
when they saw him stand up before them, master 
over all he surveyed. 

He lost no time in returning to his comrades, 
traveling night and day to get to the camp. What 
a happy surprise it was to the boys to see him 
come, as they were fearful lest they would never 
see his face again. But he lived to have many 
an exciting experience after this, and not long 
after he had one with bears that had been carry- 
ing off his roasting ears on his new-made ground. 
Fining his flash pan, he went out and found the 
bears with a lot in their arms walking on their 
hind feet. Flashing their eyes with his pan, he 
killed two or three with his gun, and not having 
a good hold lost his footing, fell back, and the bear 
was about to jump on him when he whipped out 
his knife and they had a rough and tumble fight. 
Finally he thrust his knife to the bear's heart and 
he came off victorious with several carcasses of 
bear to his credit. They had plenty of bear meat 
to eat for several days. 

It is, of course, impossible to recite all the deeds 
of valor and the only hopes I have in writing this 
little sketch of Uncle Joe Spence is to show to the 
generation now living, and those that are to fol- 
low, some of the difficulties and dangers that were 
daily experienced by the brave pioneers of former 
days. Uncle Joe's example and fortitude may not 



116 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

seem so striking now, but it was the lives of such 
men as these that have left us the freedom and 
comforts we enjoy as a blessed heritage, and it 
is my humble privilege to extol his name as of 
nature's noblemen and as one of Texas' heroes. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 117 



CHAPTER XIII. 



WM. SPENCE. 

On February 18th, in the year 1833, in North 
Carolina, there was a babe born who was to be 




UNCLE BILL SPENCE 

enrolled in after years among the early pioneers 
in Texas history. It was the man of whom this 
sketch gives but a feeble reminiscence. Wm. 



118 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



Spence came through to Texas on horseback with 
Joseph P. Spence in 1838; the long, dangerous 
journey was accompanied with many an adven- 
ture, as the country was then infested with in- 




VIRGINIA C. SPENCE 



numerable bands of redskins and man-eating wild 
animals. There were also numerous bands of out- 
laws and horse thieves, who plied their infamous 
occupations on the white settlers and travelers in 
search of homes in the wilderness. It required 
more than ordinary bravery to make these trips, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 119 

as there was, on every hand, dangers from loss of 
life from the bloodthirsty savage, the lurking wild 
beast, and the outlaw. 

Nor was the pioneer himself the only sufferer, 
for we must take into account the mother and the 
father and the sisters and the brothers in the 
North Carolina home, who knew something of the 
privations and the danger that awaited the ab- 
sent son and brother. Pen cannot picture the 
anxiety and the worry on the mother mind, but 
these valiant men went forward in their strength 
and manhood to conquer unbeaten paths and set 
new homes for the increasing demands of the un- 
born generations yet to come. History has re- 
corded names of such men who have devoted their 
lives to the pursuit of finding new countries, new 
places where man can build and develop untold ad- 
vantages to mankind, and it is only fitting and 
worthy on our part to illuminate these pages with 
those who have done this for us, who have the 
advantages of what the early pioneers obtained by 
their self-sacrifice and enterprise by leaving this 
far-famed Texas a land of liberty and law-abiding 
commonwealth, where there is no longer any re- 
straint on any man who wants to pursue his ways 
according to his own conscience. 

It was not so when Wm. Spence came here ; the 
policy and the purpose of the inhabitants of the 
country was to destroy and take away the belong- 
ings of others for themselves. It was peopled 
with men who loved neither home nor liberty ex- 
cept so far as that liberty considered themselves. 
They delighted in killing or scalping or stealing 
or burning. Whenever anyone came to try and 



120 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

build, it was the desire of the inhabitants then 
to destroy and steal what they could get their 
hands on. The Indian and his ally, the notorious 
bands of horse thieves, composed of degenerate 
white men, were the sole occupants of the land 
except the beasts of the field, whose carniverous 
desires were satiated in preying on other beasts 
and occasionally a helpless or wounded human be- 
ing. If we can fully realize the difficulties of our 
forefathers who pioneered in early days we cer- 
tainly ought to be thankful for what they have 
done for us in providing for us the happy homes 
we now are permitted to enjoy without fear of 
molestation. 

Nearly all the old settlers of the early days have 
passed across the dark river, and those of us who 
are on life's river homeward bound will soon reach 
the end of our journey and hope to meet again 
those gone before on the other side. 

The nearest freighting market at which we 
could get our supplies in those days was at Jeffer- 
son, a distance of 125 miles. Aside from that we 
raised at home, was for forty years hauled from 
this point by an ox team attached to ox wagons, 
and these trains could be seen for miles hauling 
supplies from Jefferson and returning with loads 
of skins and products of the land. 

Land sold in those days at 25 to 50 cents the 
acre, and there was abundance for everybody and 
plenty of grass for the cattle to feed on without 
the necessity for extra feeding. 

Wm. Spence was one of those men, who, by 
sheer industry and perseverance under difficulties, 
earned his way through life because of his worth, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 121 

and being economical, and assisted by a thrifty 
and industrious wife, accumulated quite a goodly 
estate with considerable means and a large herd 
of stock. They had a delightful and happy home, 
and delighted in extending hospitality to those 
who were their friends and royally entertained 
them, as well as those who were traveling through 
the country seeking to make a home among them. 

Uncle Bill, as he was familiarly called, married 
Virginia C. Baker in March, 1869, from which 
union there was born a son, Wilham, who lives on 
the old home place. 

Uncle Bill lost his wife March 24th, 1903, and 
Uncle Bill died July 24th, 1905. They are gone 
from us, but the memory of their devotion and 
usefulness remains behind for us to revere their 
memory. They are at rest from their labors now 
and the trials incident to this life, but we trust 
when the final roll is called up yonder we shall be 
with them and answer to the roll call on the right 
side. 

Uncle Bill, by a former marriage, also had a 
daughter, who was named Virginia, adopted by 
Uncle Joe Spence and raised to womanhood by 
him and his good wife. She married Mr. George 
Finley and was the happy mother of quite a large 
family. 



122 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XIV 



CAPT. SHELTON. 

This indomitable old settler was born in Ar- 
kansas on April nth, 1823. In 1827, during the 
month of September, he made his pilgrimage to 
the land we love—Texas— and located where Rox- 
ton IS now. At that time it was a frontier settle- 
ment, a sort of fortification was built there, so the 
families could hve without danger of destruction 
by the Indians. The women and children stayed 
m the fort, while the men went out and worked, 
having pickets and spies ready to warn them if 
any of the marauding Indians should approach, 
so that they could hasten to the fort and be pre- 
pared to defend themselves. The place was then 
called Fort Shelton. A company of rangers was 
organized under the command of W. B. Stout. 
Capt. Shelton was a member of this company* 
though only a lad of about sixteen years. The 
fort was afterwards moved south of where Honey 
Grove is now after several battles with Indians, 
and Capt. Shelton served in the company of ran- 
gers nearly a year. He afterwards enlisted as a 
minute man in a company whose watchword was 
to be ready at a minute's notice to defend the 
home and lives of women and children. They had 
many exciting experiences with the Indians, who 
made a practice of stealing the white man's horses 
and a pony of Shelton's, one he thought a great 
deal of was one the Indians stole, and he never 
felt kindly to the Indians thereafter. A man by 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 123 

the name of Davis was killed about the time of 
the moving of the fort from Fort Shelton and 
a great deal of skirmishing was done. Capt. bhei- 
ton was very well acquainted with Bailey Enghsh, 




CAPT. ELI SHELTON AND WIFE, • 
HIGH, TEXAS 

father of Jo English, who married Capt. Shelton's 
sister, and so he was quite intimate with the gar- 
rison at Fort English, then a settlement located 
where Bonham stands now. This fort was built 



124 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN T^EXAS 

of stout logs in which, at frequent intervals, were 
placed loopholes, enabling them to shoot any 
enemy that might approach. Our company of min- 
ute men was commanded by Capt. Jack Wilson, 
and many an Indian learned to his sorrow the ac- 
curacy of this company's aim, the rapidity of 
their action. They did not make many attacks 
on this fort, because they soon found out it was 
too disastrous to their braves and the Indians were 
glad to turn away from the dangers that attack- 
ing this fort resulted in to them. 

The famous Davy Crockett came through this 
country on his way to the fort that has made Texas 
heroism and bravery the most famous in modern 
and ancient history. Fort Alamo is, and always 
will be, the synonym for deeds of bravery. His- 
tory does not record a greater evidence of fearless- 
ness and courage than that battlefield, and we 
do well revere their memory and extol their virtues 
for the battle for the glorious liberty which we 
hold so dear and has made our great State the 
admiration of every man, woman and child 
throughout the civilized world. 

It was on the journey to the Alamo that Crock- 
ett camped at Honey Grove. He gave it the name 
it bears because he found such an abundance of 
honey. The name was cut in large letters on a 
chinguapin tree and has been so called from the 
time it was a grove on the prairies, until it has 
now grown to be quite a city. 

In the minute men service Capt. Shelton had sev- 
eral encounters with Indians. There was not a 
great number in the company, but they were in- 
domitable fighters, and in every conflict there was 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 125 

many an Indian went to his happy hunting ground. 
On one of these occasions a famous Indian doctor 
was mortally wounded. He had in his possession 
a collection of Indian medicines and herbs, and a 
creek ran close to where the doctor was wounded 
and from which they named the creek Doctor's 
Creek, near where Cooper is today in Delta Coun- 
ty. Sherman was surveyed by a man by the name 
of Shannon. Pinhook was the name of the village 
where the city of Paris now stands. There was 
a store there run by George Wright. This was 
before there was a home of any kind in Honey 
Grove. Jonesborough, thirty-five miles northeast 
of Paris, was our nearest town, and there is where 
we purchased our supplies, paying for them with 
skins of animals killed by our trusty guns. Our 
animals were driven to market, sometimes to Jef- 
ferson, Texas, and from there shipped to New 
Orleans. And ofttimes it was advisable to drive 
them to Nebraska and Kansas, over the Chisholm 
trail, at great risk of loss from the Indians, and 
the cowboys had to sleep out on the prairies, al- 
ways in danger from panthers, wildcats, bears, etc. 
But they became inured to hardships and dangers, 
and were brave, honorable and industrious. They 
were frequently obliged to exercise the duty of 
guardians of the law and frequently were obhged 
to hang desperadoes and cattle thieves and depre- 
dators to rid the country of these undesirables. 
On one occasion a band of desperadoes, led by 
Jones Ray and some other white men who had con- 
spired to murder and assassinate, and had com- 
mitted a murder, were caught and speedily hung. 
Dr. Jewett, a pioneer from Missouri, was assassi- 



126 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

nated in his home one night, and when his mur- 
derer was discovered and had confessed he was 
also hung. 

It would be a good and sufficient cause for com- 
motion to go to church Sunday morning and find 
the men all armed with shotguns, expecting at any- 
minute to be called on to use them in self-defense, 
and yet that is exactly what did happen in those 
days when we had our camp meetings. At one 
of these camp meetings, conducted by a Methodist 
minister by the name of Orr, where Roxton is now 
located, while the meeting was in progress, the 
Indians crawled up and stole the finest race horse 
in the community and rode him away, but the 
spirited animal, by some means, managed to escape 
from them and returned with a rope dangling 
from his neck. 

One of the first physicians that located in the 
community was Dr. Mittower. He was a very able 
and efficient physician and practiced in a very 
large territory. The blessings to humanity, ad- 
ministered by his hands, have never been fully 
repaid, but many a patient suffering from the ills 
to which flesh is heir, bless the good doctor's name 
for his generous administration. 

In those good old days the circuit preachers were 
a helpful gift to our needs. The Rev. J. W. P. Mc- 
Kenzie and the Rev. John Graham were our first 
circuit preachers, and they were obliged to take 
long and dangerous journeys to reach their sev- 
eral stations over lonely trails and across vast and 
untenanted prairies. Every once in a while there 
would be big camp meetings and a regular Pente- 
costal awakening that would last for weeks and 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 127 

many souls be converted. Rev. John Newton as- 
sisted at one of these meetings and frequently the 
meetings would last till after midnight in the 
brush arbors, and there would be stirring scenes 
of men and women giving their souls to God's 
keeping. Many of those who were born into the 
Kingdom of God are now answering the roll call 
on the other side of the river now. 

For seventy years Capt. Shelton has been a 
member of the Methodist Church, having joined 
under Rev. McKenzie when he was only eighteen 
years of age, and for sixty-five years he has been 
steward. The captain married Martha Elizabeth 
Yates, daughter of Thomas Yates and Avis Yates, 
who came to Texas in 1842. Capt. Shelton's wife 
died in May, 1911; they had lived happily for 
sixty-five years. She was a faithful wife and a 
devoted mother, blessed with all the good qualities 
of a Christian wife and mother. 

For over fifty years he has been a Mason and 
was always actively engaged in the work of the 
order until his eyesight dimmed and his hearing 
was partially suspended. He was worshipful mas- 
ter of Roxton Lodge until disqualified because of 
his physical disabilities. In politics a staunch 
Democrat; served regular sessions and two called 
sessions in the State Legislature. Over half his 
life was devoted to the interests of the State and 
church, not because of political ambition, but to 
serve his people. 

On the occasion of his dear wife's death, the 
following was dedicated by Rev. John D. Major, 
his pastor: 



128 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



THE PARTING. 

To Brother E. J. Shelton, of High, Texas, on the 
loss of his devoted wife, after sixty-five years of 
happy wedded hfe: 

They stood beside the crossing as the evening 
shadows grew. 

And he took her slender hand in his as was often 
wont to do ; 

So she received his fond caress and felt it was 
her due. 

The homage of a knightly soul, so loving, faith- 
ful, true. 

They heard the oarsman coming to bear her life 
away. 

Though she clung more closely to him at the clos- 
ing of the day; 

While she whispered to him softly, in words of 
love complete. 

We have walked so far together and the way has 
been so sweet. 

I wouldn't mind the crossing if you could only go. 
I grieve to leave you, darling, in this cold world 

below. 
He stooped and kissed her furrowed brow, now 

crowned with silver gray. 
As they stood beside the crossing at the parting 

of the way. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 129 

He saw the bloom of maidenhood and the charm- 
ing bride so fair, 

The lovely bloom of motherhood and the lines of 
mother's care ; 

And as the tears bedimmed his eyes, the oarsman 
gently bore her away 

To where love's sweetest flowers bloom in the 
fields of endless day. 



By her pastor, 

JOHN D. MAJOR. 



Brookston, Texas. 



ADVENTURES OF CAPT. SHELTON. 

I and my brother were sitting on the porch 
when we heard the cattle bellowing, and on look- 
ing to find the cause of the noise, we found them 
chasing a bear across the prairie towards a creek. 
We had two rifles and a shot pouch, and each of 
us grabbed a rifle and went to intercept the bear. 
He ran across the creek into a grove and I started 
up a cow path by the creek. I saw the bear com- 
ing toward me. Being small at the time and 
young, I could not hold the rifle out in my hands, 
so I rested my gun on a tree and made a bad shot, 
but I hit him, though it was not a fatal wound. 
My brother, hearing the shot, came to me. The 
bear, in the meantime, ran after my dog. I took 
my brother's gun and gave chase after the bear, 
who had run towards a big thicket, but I headed 
him off. A tree had been blown down and I 
crawled up into it waiting for him. Pretty soon 



130 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

he came, and looked as though he was coming to 
join me, so I decided there wasn't room enough 
for both of us, so I hurried to get out. Just then 
the bear turned to pass and I let him have the 
contents of the gun and it hit him in a vital spot. 
My brother came rushing in on the scene just 
then. I was already on the bear and yelled to 
brother not to shoot, that I had him and claimed 
the honor and credit of being a bear hunter. The 
bear was a big fellow and so old he was gray. My 
father was amused when I told him of my skill, 
and after he had examined the bear, praised me 
for having done so well. He said it was one of 
the largest he had ever seen and that I deserved 
credit for it. 

At another time my wife's brother tackled a 
bear up in the snow. We tried to keep our dogs 
in the rear, but they took after the bear ahead 
of us. The bear went around in a circle and finally 
came back near where we were. My brother-in- 
law shot at him and missed; my shot hit him on 
the thigh and broke it ; the two dogs came up and 
I advanced toward the bear, my gun in hand. The 
bear sprang away from the dogs at me. I thrust 
my gun in his face and he grabbed it with his 
mouth. I shoved the gun in his mouth so he 
couldn't bite me. He took a good hold of the gun 
and broke one of his teeth in his attempt to bite 
the barrel and jerked the gun out of my hand. 
The dogs were harassing him and they partially 
drew his attention from me. Finally he sprang 
from the dogs again and tried to get me with his 
claws and hug me with his huge paws, but I got 
behind a tree. He tried to get me behind the tree 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 131 

and made several attempts to bite me, but I finally 
got my knife out, and as he tried to reach me on 
the one side I thrust my knife into his side and 
kept myself in readiness to fight him to a finish. I 
finally succeeded in landing a fatal blow and we 
had bear meat for food for several days. 

On another occasion we had a Christmas frolic 
down on Sulphur. The evening before we had 
killed a small bear and the next morning there 
was a misty rain which made the cane very wet 
— our camp had been made in this cane — so wet 
that it threatened to spoil our powder. All of the 
others had the old flint lock-guns but myself and 
another of my comrades, and ours used percussion 
caps. We tried to keep our caps and powder dry 
by covering it with tallow. We hadn't started 
very far when we discovered a large bear. The 
hunters and dogs gave chase to the bear except 
myself, but I, seeing a large cane break, felt sure 
he would try to make that, so went to head him 
off. As soon as I got to the place I expected he 
would go I found the bear and dogs came together 
and the dogs caught him close to where I was. 
There wasn't any chance to shoot him in a vital 
spot until he fell and rolled over with his head 
towards me, his mouth wide open. I fired into 
his mouth, but the ball did not go far enough back 
to kill him. In a short time he was up on his feet 
again, the dogs having hold of him. I dropped 
my gun, pulled out my knife, and stabbed him on 
the opposite side, knowing that if I stabbed him 
on the side next to me he would bite me. I had 
to cut him three times before I finally killed him. 



132 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

and in one of the lunges I made he grabbed my 
arm and tore the cuff off my coat. 

On still another occasion we found a bear in his 
den ; he had scraped up the leaves from all around 
and made himself a bed. As I looked in I saw him 
raise his head. I thought he was coming out, so 
I called to the rest of the party and the dogs. The 
dogs charged him, but they came back with a rush 
and we expected the bear to follow the dogs, but 
he didn't. It was so dark we could see him well, 
so when we fired at him we only wounded him. 
The dogs went in again, but came back in a hurry 
and one of the hunters took another shot at him. 
I crouched down so the light could come over my 
back, so I could see better, and as he crossed the 
light hole I fired and killed him. Hastily whipping 
out my knife, I trimmed a hickory pole, twisted 
the top and made a noose, which I fastened around 
the bear's foot by crawling in the hole, and the 
boys caught me by the heels and pulled me and 
the bear out. That was next to the last bear I 
killed, and the last one was not at all exciting. 

I have personally helped to kill as many as six 
bears in a day and I could fill a book with my en- 
counters, but those days are over and the hard- 
fought battles with Indians and bears are over 
and all we can do is to live them over in memory. 
I still have my old bear knife, a reminder of the 
thrilling experiences of the days when our country 
was not so secure and peaceful as now. But it is 
gratifying to know that the security and peace 
we now possess is at the cost of the sacrifices and 
perseverance of the early pioneers. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



133 



CHAPTER XV. 



C. C. YOAKUM. 

This noble pioneer was born in Hardy County, 
West Virginia, near the Allegheny mountains, and 



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C. C. YOAKUM. Honey Grove. Texas 

spent his youth in that interesting community, 
but cast his lot with Texas pioneers in 1839. He 
has a vigorous body and enjoyed life abundantly. 



134 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

It was his duty to tend his father's stock, which 
he ranged in the excellent grass of the prairies 
so abundant as to reach the animals' sides. It 
was great sport to him to give chase to them as 
they were attempting to get away from control 
on fleet-footed horses racing as if they were racing 
for life. Fond as he was of the hunt, and being 
of a jovial nature, he had many friends among the 
young men who spent a great deal of time hunt- 
ing. A real royal time they had with their dogs 
and guns in pursuit endeavoring to keep up with 
the hounds and kill the wild game and carniverous 
animals. How he delighted to tell of the enjoy- 
ment he got out of the delightful mountain springs 
with their abundance of flowing, cool, clear water. 
How he used to enjoy the scenery of the moun- 
tains and tell of the view away out in the distance 
seemingly a hundred miles away, and with what 
awe he was inspired as he looked at the variety of 
colors in nature's paint shop among the trees and 
cliffs and mountains as peak stood up above peak, 
seemingly trying to outreach one another in the 
attempt to reach a higher plane and endeavor ap- 
parently to reach heaven and seemed to be trying 
to get in touch with the infinite. The mountain 
seems to be the place of God's revelation to men 
in all ages. He gave Moses the law on a tablet 
of stone in the mountain. Moses had his last view 
on earth at the promised land somewhere in the 
mountain. And in the mountains, where Moses 
was either translated or buried, Satan contended 
with the angel for his body. 

In those Virginia mountains, where our subject 
spent his boyhood days, it was an ideal home to 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 135 

him, but the temptations of the call of Texas 
brought him here in '49. He landed at Shreveport, 
at which place he bought an ox team, and came 
overland in a wagon and located at his old home 
place, six miles northwest of Honey Grove. This 
place he calls home — home, sweet home — the place 
he so much loved and labored so many years dur- 
ing his manhood days in improving and building. 

C. C. Yoakum and his good wife. Mary, were 
very industrious, hard-working people and accum- 
ulated an independence with good property and a 
good quantity of stock. They had two sons and 
two daughters, all of them now living — Bettie, the 
oldest, married Mr. Dock Gober, and after his 
death married Mr. Bud Stallings, and live at Eulia, 
Swisher County; Ed., the oldest son, married Miss 
Lee Nicholson, and they live in the old Capt. 
Nicholson home; they have two children, a boy, 
Willie, and a daughter named Ethlyn. Miss MoUie 
Yoakum, the younger daughter of C. C. Yoakum, 
married P. B. Johnson, and have five sons — Henry, 
Mort, Carl, Ivan and Willie. Mr. Johnson is a pros- 
perous farmer, and his boys are equally indus- 
trious and are good business men. Mr. Mortimer 
Yoakum married Miss Laura Erwin, and they were 
parents of four boys and four grils. They live in 
the old homestead and are all doing well. 

C. C. Yoakum died in 1909 and his wife preceded 
him in 1887. Their labors are over and have 
passed to the home prepared from before the 
foundation of the earth, for that is the promise 
to those who are redeemed of the Lord, and they 
were certainly good. Christian people. 



136 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XVI. 



CAPT. W. UNDERWOOD. 

Capt. W. Underwood, a retired merchant of 
Honey Grove, Texas, is a native of Sumner Coun- 
ty, Tennessee, where he was born February 17th, 
1828. He is the son of Nathan and Judith (Mar- 
tin) Underwood. His father, who was a tailor by 
trade, was born in North CaroHna and died in Wil- 
son County, Tennessee, in 1842. His mother was 
born in Robinson County, Tennessee, and died 
there in 186—. 

Capt. Underwood was the youngest of five chil- 
dren — all deceased except himself — the others 
being Minerva, Albert, John and Frank. Capt. 
Underwood settled in Texas in 1855 and was a 
clerk in the store of B. S. Walcott until the break- 
ing out of the war, in which he took an active 
part until the close. After the struggle was over 
he returned to Texas, engaged in business, and 
has been ever since until about 1900. He retired 
from active work, and since then has lived quietly 
in Honey Grove. In 1868 he was married to Miss 
Martha Bagby, of Clarksville, Texas, who died 
January 9th, 1915. They had two sons — John 
Arthur and Frank W. They have been associated 
with their father in business several years. 

Capt. Underwood is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 137 



CHAPTER XVII. 

PIONEER JAMES BAKER. 

Naturally I feel that great credit is due my 
father, who emigrated to this country in 1837 
with his family, as being one of the first pioneer 
Texans. He certainly had all the hardships and 
dangers that went with that worthy title and was 
useful in his way toward the building of this great 
commonwealth. He was a civil engineer by occu- 
pation and often, while in the performance of his 
duties with my oldest brother, Thomas C. Baker, 
were surprised, while carrying the chains, by ap- 
proaching Indians, who harassed them in their 
work. He generally was able to make friends with 
the Indians, but it was trying on my mother, who 
looked upon the times and conditions as being 
times of peril. As I sit now, writing this little 
reminiscence of my life, I do not seem to be able 
to make my pen write the words that best express 
the conditions as they then existed. In fact, I do 
not think that pen is capable of depicting the hard- 
ships and dangers that attended the trials of the 
early pioneer. 

I was born in 1838, and was only a child when 
my father was having the experiences which most 
try a men of metal, but I well remember the opin- 
ion of some of his comrades who lived neighbors 
to him for years. There was in old Red River and 
Lamar Counties old Uncle Sam Orton, Uncle Davy 
Lome, Mr. Harmon, Mr. Chisholm, old Father Mc- 
Kenzie, and many others who were lifelong friends 



138 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

of my father. From my earliest recollections I 
remember Brother James Graham; he preached 
all over the country, not having a specified station, 
but going from place to place, wherever he could 
accomplish the most good. We did not have fine 
churches with upholstered pews and were content 
to hear the Word of God from the lips of those 
men who were willing to endure the storms and 
perils of the circuit to preach in hewed log cabins 
in which were placed hewed log benches for seats ; 
satisfied to hear the words of redeeming love re- 
vealed through Christ to a fallen world and enjoy- 
ing the consciousness of his fellowship. 

In those days we were building from the bottom 
up, little by little, those stout old Democrats who 
laid the foundation which has stood the test of 
time and adversity as well as enjoyed the advan- 
tage of success. 

My father was a Democrat, a soldier in the 
War of the Revolution, was in the Battle of New 
Orleans on the 8th of January, 1812, and served 
with my eldest brother in the Florida war. My 
two brothers, William and Robert, were also en- 
listed in the war with Mexico, and my brother 
Robert in the Civil War, so I feel as though we 
should be enrolled as pioneers, not only as home 
builders, but as home defenders as well. 

My father went to glory in 1871, on Christmas 
day; he was then eighty-four years of age. He 
died at his home, six miles south of Bonham. He 
had been preceded by mother several years before, 
who passed to the world triumphant on the 21st of 
October, 1858. 

A brighter and more perfect example of true 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 139 

Christian character was never left as a legacy to 
children than was that of him who left the example 
of those I am writing of to the child who is pen- 
ning these lines. There were ten children born 
to my mother; six have gone on before and we 
four are remaining, awaiting the summons to the 
grand reunion, as I pray God we shall meet to- 
gether in glory around the Father's throne a 
united family. 

These words are penned and these reminiscences 
recited by the youngest child of one of the noble 
pioneers, and may these men linger long in the 
memory of those who appreciate the worth of 
those who gave their lives for the good of our 
native land is the wish of 

VIRGINIA C. SPENCE. 



140 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XVIII. 



TRIBUTE AND EULOGY TO UNCLE JOHN 
JONES. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas. 

Words fail us to fully express our tribute of 
love and respect for our kind, good friend, J. W. 
Jones, Sr., with whom it was our happy, pleasant 
lot to be associated in my youthful boyhood days, 
herding horses on the luxuriant, nutritious grass 
and boarding with him in the long ago, when our 
memory with retrospective view, turns and lingers 
with those indescribable happy times. We can 
testify that surely Uncle John Jones complied with 
the edict of God in the beginning, "In the sweat 
of thy face shalt thou eat bread all the days of 
thy life." For he labored diligently and contin- 
uous, and acquired a competency of the necessar- 
ies of this life. Though at times misfortune by 
fire bore heavily upon him, he persevered courage- 
ously, patiently and faithfully ever trusting in God, 
who comforted and sustained him, now in old age, 
longer than the usual time hmit allotted to man. 
He is still with us. Oh, may God's richest bless- 
ings rest and abide with him, and may his last 
days be the most joyous, happy and peacable, and 
as the shadows of time grow less, oh, may he 
triumphantly realize that God is with him, and 
that his friends and loved ones are beckoning him 
home to the other shore, into the house of many 
mansions, where he shall ever be free from care, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 141 

sorrow and pain. And, oh, may the same hope and 
blessed assurance be with all the weary, care- 
worn pilgrims, our early settlers and pioneers, 
both mothers and fathers, is the sincere desire 
of the author and compiler of this book. 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



NINETY AND ONE. 



Monday of this week Honey Grove's oldest citi- 
zen passed another milestone in the grand march 
of life to eternity's shore. So far as our knowl- 
edge extends, J. W. Jones has had a longer stay 
on earth than any person within the bounds of 
what we term the Honey Grove country. The 
subject of this little sketch was born in North 
Bend, Ohio, March 18th, 1827, and is now entering 
his ninety-second year. The village in which Mr. 
Jones was born is now a part of the great city of 
Cincinnati. 

It was in 1846 that Mr. Jones turned his face 
westward to make his home in a new and unde- 
veloped country. With his parents he journeyed 
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers by boat to 
New Orleans, and thence up Red river to Shreve- 
port. From the latter place the family traveled 
by wagon to a point one mile north of the spot 
on which the present village of Self s now stands. 
About five months intervened between the time 
of starting and the day the family finally drove 
stakes on the spot which was to be their home. 
In 1857 Mr. Jones purchased 300 acres of land, 
which included the present location of Selfs, pay- 
ing 25 cents per acre therefor. 



142 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

When the bugle call summoned the sons of the 
Southland to the defense of their country, Mr. 
Jones was one of the first to enlist, and he served 
until peace was declared in Settle's battalion, 
which did State guard duty. After the war he 
built a mill at Selfs, which for many years ground 
corn for all the people of this section. 

Our country has had no more useful man than 
John W. Jones, and no country ever had a better 
man. This writer has known the man thirty-two 
years, lived under his hospitable roof for more 
than two years, and can say, in all sincerity, that 
John W. Jones is one of the grandest characters 
it has been his lot to know. Never did we hear 
him speak against any many, and never did we 
know him to say a foolish or an unkind word. One 
of the finest pictures we see is this fine old gentle- 
man passing his decHning days so peacefully, so 
contentedly, so hopefully, and so happily. He at- 
tends church regularly, reads the news of the day 
with a deep interest, discusses issues with his 
neighbors, tells jokes, and enjoys life to the utter- 
most. He has well earned a rich reward in heaven, 
but the Lord he has served so well has granted 
unto him a rich foretaste of the glories of the 
world to come even while he tabernacles in the 
flesh. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 143 

CHAPTER XIX. 



MRS. N. C. JONES. 

I was born in Franklin County, Georgia, in 1838. 
My father, Armstad W. Ramsey, came to Texas 
in 1851 in a four-horse wagon, starting on the 6th 
of October and landing at T. R. Williams the week 
before Christmas. T. R. Williams lived about one 
mile above Bois d'Arc Springs and had a water mill 
there. The 4th of the next July we were all taken 
down sick. We moved out to the prairie in a log 
hut on Tolbert Myers' place, the place where Bettie 
Ramsey now lives, and from there we moved to 
a log hut on Wilson Allen's place. The next Jan- 
uary father died, and was the first one to be buried 
at Vineyard Grove. That old church was just be- 
ing built at that time. A Baptist preacher by the 
name of Brisco put up the house. While we lived 
on the Allen place we went to school at the chapel 
in an old log house. A man by the name of Stovall 
taught the school. That was the only school house 
within ten miles or more, and the ones that hved 
off a distance came on horseback, three on a horse. 
I don't know of but six who are living that went 
to school there. With us there are Peyton Wheel- 
er and his wife, Clem Wheeler, George Carpenter, 
my sister, Lucindy Johnson, and myself. Mother 
was ninety years old when she died. She raised 
six children and had never lost a child, all of whom 
were living when she died, but all of them are 
dead now excepting Philander Jones. My husband 
is eighty-two years old, the oldest of eight chil- 



144 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

dren, who are all dead but him. We never had 
but one child and he died last June in his fifty- 
ninth year. We are almost alone, having two 
grand children and four great-grandchildren. Had 
a sister die about a month ago, Mrs. M. E. Buie. 
When we came to Texas it was very thinly settled, 
just a log cabin now and then, with one room to 
cook , eat and sleep in, and a puncheon floor with 
the roof nailed on with logs ; one door, the shutter 
made out of boards, and generally opened on the 
outside to save room. They were so low that there 
was but one log above the door for the door to 
shut against. We had no cook stoves, cooking on 
the fireplace, and had stick and dirt chimneys. If 
there was a plank house anywhere in this country 
I don't recollect it, or an oak plank or pine plank, 
as none had ever come this country then. There 
were lots of wild animals here. I came very near 
being eat up twice, once by a bear and once by a 
wildcat, but I was pretty swift on foot in them 
days and I outrun them. These bottoms were full 
of wild hogs at this time and they were sure bad ; 
the only way you had to get away from them was 
by climbing a tree or getting up on a high stump 
and staying there until they had left. But I tell 
you one did not enjoy waiting for them to leave 
very much. I forgot to mention old man McCart. 
He came to Texas in the fall of 1852. I think he 
came from Missouri. He came in an old wagon 
and settled just north of the Nicholson place, a 
short distance. I don't know whether any of them 
are living or not. And then there was old Jerry 
Word, Ely Prickett, Mark Dalton, Adam and Co- 
lumbus Yoakum, old man Lewis Stephens and 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 145 

Joseph Morrison, and the Allen brothers, Hal Wil- 
son, young Elbert Stanmore, old man Gwaltney, a 
hard-shell preacher, and David Peavler. He lived 
near where the German church now stands. 



146 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



CHAPTER XX. 



HONEY GROVE. 

We are proud of our beautiful, prosperous and 
progressive little city, Honey Grove, which is sit- 
uated sixteen miles east of Bonham, twenty-two 
miles west of Paris and eighty-five miles north- 
east of Dallas, with a population of 3,500 inhabi- 
tants, five churches, three schools, high and grade 
whites, and one colored school, with an enrolment 
of 800 whites and 300 blacks; water works, two 
livery stable and wagon yards, oil mill, compress, 
two corn mills, T. & P. and Santa Fe railroads and 
depots, with necessary number of dry goods and 
family grocery stores, three drug stores, shops, 
etc., city hall, hotels, restaurants, Woodmen and 
Masonic lodges; a beautiful, well-kept cemetery, 
enclosed by beautiful, up-to-date fencing, which 
is a monument to the zeal and work of the pro- 
gressive ladies, who so kindly, in commemoration 
of their departed friends and loved ones, freely 
contributed to the good work and cause, which will 
ever be as a memorial unto them. 

The city of Bonham shipped, during 1917, 22,- 
500 bales of cotton, 10,000 or 12,000 tons cotton- 
seed, 100,000 bushels of peanuts; oats, corn and 
hay in quantities not known, but a great deal was 
shipped out with plenty left to supply our town 
and country. Our progressive city is surrounded 
by very rich productive land. In short, we are 
prosperous, contented and happy. 

The justly celebrated Honey Grove derived its 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 147 

name from the immense number of bee trees of 
richest honey; every hollow tree, and sometimes 
deposited in the tangled down weeds and grass 
which David Crockett and my father, W. B. Allen 
and his many pioneer comrades found here in 
abundance in the early days of Texas Oh, what 
happy, indescribable times we would have it we 
could find such a country again, but gone tor- 

ever. 

One day, while my father was hacking away 
with his big hack knife through immense tangle 
of vines, brush and briars, suddenly came upon a 
stooping pine oak tree, on which was cut in big 
letters Honey Grove, which was supposed to have 
been cut by David Crockett, as they had just 
passed on before to the famous Alamo, where 180 
tried, true and brave held at bay 5,000 Mexicans 
under Santa Anna for a considerable time, but 
who were finally brutally murdered, and dead 
bodies were savagely piled and burned, which 
proved a death knell soon after to old Santa Anna 
and his host of demons. 

The blood of martyrs is the seed of perpetual 
truth and principle that shall live forever. 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



148 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XXI. 



(To my Wife, Children and Many Relatives and 
Friends these lines are dedicated.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 

December 26, 1917. 
As I sit in my old home in which I was born 
sixty-nme years and two months ago, I study 
ponder and dream of the long ago; of childhood's' 
happy days when we knew no care, misfortune or 
bereavenaent. Oh! that those days might return 
again But they are gone forever. We cannot 
live life over again, but as we rapidly pass life's 
milestones to the Great Beyond, from whence no 
traveler ever returns, oh, may God help us to live 
that when we are called to cross the last river we 
will be prepared to enter through the gates into 
the city and be forever with the Lord In the 
old home voices once heard are heard no more 
but are forever stilled this side of the home over 
there. Yet when we meet there hallelujah re- 
joicing will be heard, safe at home at last. Places 
once occupied here in the old home are now vacant, 
but most grand and glorious thought, we shall 
meet again. The pictures on the wall of our 
triends and loved ones, who are now gone, bring 
vividly to memory the long ago when we were 
happily associated here. The remembrance of our 
log cabin church and school house around which 
we played with our schoolmates is indelibly print- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 149 

ed on memory's pages, never to be erased. Nearly 
all my schoolmates of those days have crossed the 
last river and answered to roll call on the other 
side. We are often made to wonder and exclaim 
why are we still permitted to live while milHons 
of our fellow creatures have passed off of the 
stage of existence since we had a being in the 
world, and are now reahzing the experiences of 
another world. All of which reminds us that we, 
too, are fast passing away; soon will be gone. 
Will you miss me when I am gone? Perhaps a 
few visits will be paid to our narrow, lonely grave. 
Perhaps a tear, a sprig of evergreen, a flower, 
wreath or boquet will fall thereon from loving 
hands in commemoration of me, but as time swift- 
ly rolls on, and the years go fleeting by, those 
visits will be less frequent, yet it is worth much 
to know we will be kindly remembered when we 
are gone. Such is life; we are in the midst of 
death. Like as a vapor or a dream, and as the 
grass cut down withers and dies, and as the fading, 
f alHng leaves come forth from the budding boughs 
in the spring, reminding us we shall be fully rein- 
vigorated, resurrected as was our Savior and 
world's Redeemer, so shall we be, and go home to 
the home of many mansions prepared for all, ready 
to enter therein. Vanity, all is vanity here, which 
is not our abiding place, our permanent home, but 
as pilgrims on a journey, we are going home to 
our long sought home. Meet, or, meet me there 
in the sweet fields of Eden, where the trees of life 
on either side of the river of life are ever per- 
petually blooming. There will be no wilted flowers 
there, but ever-beautiful, fragrant, fair and bloom- 



150 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

ing. Where we shall ever be free from care, sor- 
row and pain. Meet, oh, meet me there, when our 
journey is ended here. Hope, oh, blessed hope, 
by our divine religion given ; 'tis this that makes 
our darkness day, our earth a heaven, all pur- 
chased by our Savior, through the merits of His 
sacrificial blood, accompanied by the Holy Spirit. 
Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe. 

Yours and His, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 151 

CHAPTER XXII. 



A TRIBUTE AND EULOGY TO THE GOOD 
LADIES AND BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 
The beautiful, fragrant flowers are emblematic 
of peace, good will, love, and as sweet silent an- 
gelic messengers from heaven's happy, pure world. 
Oh may they ever be lavishly strewn along our 
pathway, as we, as pilgrims on our journey 
through life, rapidly pass life's milestones to the 
Great Beyond, where there will ever be sweet 
fragrant flowers, perpetually blooming— no wilted 
flowers or boquets there, but ever fragrant, fair 
and blooming in the sweet fields of Eden, where 
the trees of life on either side of the river of lite, 
that ebbs and flows from the throne of God, are 
ever blooming. Meet, oh, meet me there. When 
the trials and afflictions of life are o'er, oh, let us 
meet on the other shore. Beyond life's river we 
will be at home forever more with our Savior; all 
the good and pure will be there. Our friends and 
loved ones, long gone before, are there, watchmg 
and waiting at the beautiful gate for our arrival 
at home, where there will be no more care, sorrow 
or pain. No night or death there. Eye hath not 
seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered 
into the heart of man, the good things held m 
reservate in the house of many mansions. Oh, 
may the good ladies, who so kindly presented me 
with sweet, beautiful boquets, ever have our kind- 
est best remembrance for their expressions of 



152 EARLY PIONEER DAyS IN TEXAS 

hearty good will for our peace, joy and happiness 
here and in the great hereafter. Oh, what would 
this world be without the good women? A waste, 
howling, lonely, desolate place, indeed. Homes 
without them would be fit habitations for owls, 
bats, and all kinds of vermin. She was the last 
at the cross and the first at the sepulchre. When 
men fled in dismay she remained, patient, true 
and faithful, representing truth and purity of 
heaven's pure, happy world. The good, true and 
faithful work she has done shall ever be held in 
kindest remembrance as a memorial unto her. 
There should be monuments erected to her that 
will endure the storms of time, on and on through- 
out the ceaseless cycles of eternity. Oh, words 
fail us to express our love and admiration of our 
mothers who prove faithful, loving and true. 
When all others forsake us and cast us oflT she will 
ever protect and defend us ; pray on, hope on, ever, 
for our return as wandering prodigals. Come 
home, oh, prodigals, come home. 

The good, nicely, well-cooked eatables, so freely 
and lavishly furnished by our good, kind lady 
friends for our old settlers' reunion occasion, I 
assure, was highly prized and appreciated by all 
present, and will never be forgotten. Oh, may we 
all have many more happy reunions this side of 
the last river, and when our reunions here are 
over, oh, let us meet in perpetual, happy reunion 
over there, with our friends and loved ones, in a 
reunion that will never cease or break up. Happy, 
most glorious thought of all; we shall meet again 
where there will be no more care, sorrow or pain. 
Meet, oh, meet me there, in that beautiful world 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 153 

SO bright and fair. Words fails to express, pen 
or pencil to fully write, or painter's brush fully 
portray all that I want to say, so I will desist, 
hoping we all, with many more, will meet here 
next year in old settlers' reunion and answer to 
roll call. Finally, when there are no old settlers 
to answer roll call here, we will answer to roll call 
up yonder on the right side. For the present, 
farewell. 

Yours, for a happy meeting over there. 

October 2, 1915. 



154 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



OUR SOLDIER BOYS. 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 

December 30, 1917. 

Oh, may God's richest blessings ever rest and 
abide with our soldier boy friends and loved ones 
as they go forth to battle for freedom, liberty and 
independence. May the guardian angels of love 
and mercy and the Holy Spirit hover over and 
protect them 'mid the many exposures, dangers, 
hardships and temptations incident to a soldier's 
life. The sincere, earnest, loving prayers of mil- 
lions of loving hearts are now, and will ever with 
earnest solicitude, be entreating at a throne of 
grace with the most anxious desires of the mind 
and heart for those absent ones in our daily and 
nightly prayers. Oh, may God endow us with 
power from on high that fathers and mothers, and 
all relatives and friends, may be given true faith, 
courage and hope to sustain them so we can sing : 
**Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly. 
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest 
still is high. Safe into the haven guide, Oh, re- 
ceive my soul at last. Hide me, oh, my Savior 
hide ; cover my defenseless head, till the storm of 
life is past." May those for whom we pray, and 
with sad hearts bleeding and weeping, bid them, 
goodbye, and God be with you till we meet again, 
return with bright laurel crowns and honors on 
their brows, and we will fully realize that all wars 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 155 

have ceased and hearty good will, peace on earth 
and good will to all men, the Fatherhood of God 
and the brotherhood of all men has been fully- 
established in the world. Oh, for a double bless- 
ing of God's love and peace to abide with our 
grand, good and patriotic women. May her good, 
faithful, true, patient, courageous, patriotic pray- 
ers and work be a monument to her memory of 
good deeds forever. She was last at the cross and 
first at the sepulchre. Her good Red Cross and 
temperance work have enlisted the admiration of 
all the good and true of the world. Oh, may her 
Red Cross and temperance banners ever be un- 
furled to the breeze over our homes, oceans, moun- 
tains, valleys and seas, proclaiming victory, vic- 
tory, land of the free and home of the brave, from 
the bonds of slaves. 

Yours, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



156 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE RELIGION OF TODAY. 

The old churches, to a considerable extent, have 
lost the Holy Ghost power they once possessed. A 
link in the chain has been dropped, the key has 
been lost. The place to find the missing link and 
the lost key is to diligently, earnestly, sincerely, 
prayerfully search at the right place, and God 
and our Savior and the Holy Spirit will assist in 
recovering the full and complete Holy Ghost old- 
time religion. Why, oh why, echo answers why, 
have the churches abandoned the Bible required 
practice of fasting? On one occasion, when the 
apostles failed to cast out evil spirits and heal the 
afflicted, they asked the Savior the cause of their 
failure, he told them this kind goeth not out save 
by fasting and prayer. Will the requirement be 
strictly, prayerfully restored and followed, so that 
Divine healing will be fully practiced. Oh, what 
indescribable joy, peace and happiness will be the 
result of strictly observing God's requirements. 
As our obedience to his commands and faith is, so 
shall it be unto us. Ask and ye shall receive, seek 
and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto 
you. With the true and tried key of prayer, fast- 
ing and faith, we will possess sanctification and 
holiness that God intended that His true children 
should possess. The chain, with all strong con- 
necting links of spiritual communion with heaven 
and God, will constantly bring the Holy Ghost 
power down now and at all times as we sojourn 
here as pilgrims on a journey to that home where 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 157 

our friends and loved ones are watching and wait- 
ing for our safe arrival. Be ye one as my Father 
and I are one. Love; love one another as I have 
loved you. There are other sheep not of this fold ; 
they that are not against us are for us. As we 
are commanded to be one, why not all the churches 
come together and worship the true and living God 
in spirit and truth, for He seeketh feuch to worship 
Him ; by so doing the key will be found, the miss- 
ing links in the chain will be strongly connected 
and securely welded. Then, by one united co-oper- 
ation of all the churches, the world will be cap- 
tured for our Lord in one day. Oh, for a mighty 
hungering and thirsting, praying and fasting for 
a speedy oneness of all churches, with all preju- 
dice gone, enmity and unhealthy rivalry done away 
with, and true and genuine spirit rivalry to see 
who can best serve the Lord. Now is the accepted 
time ; the day of Salvation. If ye hear His voice 
harden not your hearts; strive not against the 
Spirit, but let Him come in and forever remain. 
Bless God, salvation is free. Whosoever will let 
him come and partake of the bread and water of 
life freely. Who will come to the fountain that 
never runs dry? On this rock I shall build my 
church and the gates of hell shall not prevail 
against it. Oh, let us be established on the solid 
rock, Christ Jesus, and be one church in spirit and 
be one as our Savior and Father are one. The true 
and genuine key and God's chain that extends 
from earth to heaven and constantly brings the 
spiritual communion — the Comforter — down over 
God's telephone. Throw out the life-line. All 
aboard for heaven now. 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



158 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



CHAPTER XXV. 



FOR SPEEDY REFORMATION. 



The Greatest Good to the Greatest Number. 
(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 

October 1, 1915. 

The criticisers and persecutors and the howlers 
are at work doing his satanic majesty's agents' 
work, fighting those who profess and possess true 
Holiness and sanctification. Like the members 
of the old churches criticised and persecuted our 
blessed Savior while on earth, as in like manner 
as they did then, they are doing now again. If 
the old churches were fully established on the solid 
rock, Christ Jesus, they would have nothing to 
fear from Holiness-Sanctified people. For the 
gates of hell could not prevail against, but if their 
old churches are torn asunder, broken up by the 
Holiness people proves that the old cjiurches are 
tottering their foundation. Great will be their 
fall and decay, wreck and ruin. The Savior needs 
to come again, and as He did while here, enter the 
churches, overthrow the tables of the money 
changers, scourge, and run them out, for greed, 
graft, extravagance and extortion have entered 
the churches. Their money god will not be able 
to deliver and save them any more than the rich 
man who fared sumptuously every day. His doom 
was sealed and his destiny forever unalterably 
fixed ; by his trusting in earthly riches placed him 
in hell beyond hope and mercy. Not even one drop 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 159 

of cooling water to be obtained. Money will not 
buy a through ticket to our home in the Great 
Beyond, where it is our privilege to go, and will 
go, if we accept the great plan of salvation — one 
Lord, one faith and one baptism. If you make 
that water baptism you do away with the Holy 
Ghost baptism, the only one that can possibly 
save, for a material cannot reach and cleanse a 
spiritual immaterial, so there you are. The more 
you fight Holiness people the stronger they grow, 
for they are established on the real truth and 
solid rock — Jesus Christ, Jesus, our Savior, Re- 
deemer and Lord. They that aid or abet are 
equally guilty, therefore the old churches that 
allow usury collectors to remain in the churches 
are guilty. God says that they that charge usury 
are thieves and robbers, proves that the churches 
are in co-operative league conspiracy which God 
never has, and never will, endorse. What, oh what, 
echo answers, has become of the old-time religion, 
fasting, in connection with true, genuine, fervent, 
effectual prayer, which availeth much and bring- 
eth spiritual^Holy Ghost religion down ? The driv- 
ing out of evil spirits and healing of the sick is 
promised as a direct result of fasting and prayer. 
A departure from the true faith is the cause of 
the missing link that extends from earth to heav- 
en, that brings full and complete Holy Ghost sanc- 
tification religion down. The missing links and 
the lost key cannot be found without fully com- 
plying with God's will and word. Oh, let there be 
a speedy, sincere, earnest searching for the miss- 
ing link and key where they were lost, for there 
is the only place to find them. Be ye one as my 



160 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Father and I are one, would unite all churches in 
one body, then the whole world would be fully 
captured for our Lord and Savior in one day. The 
habit of feasting, instead of fasting, has been prac- 
ticed so long that habitually a perpetual rule of 
feasting instead has been established to the ex- 
tent if a day was appointed for fasting, if good 
food was smelled, you would say at once, Let them 
go, I am going to eat, feast royally, instead of 
fasting, though I know that evil spirits cannot be 
cast out and bodily ailments healed, as our Savior 
said this kind goeth not out save by fasting and 
prayer. The handwriting is on the wall ; weighed 
in the balances and found wanting. Better heed 
the warning and escape the impending doom and 
sealed, unalterable, perpetual destiny that came 
upon Nations, Empires and Kingdoms of the past. 
History repeats itself. We judge the future by 
the past. Coming events case their shadows be- 
fore. There is a time in the course of human 
events that forbearance ceases to be a virtue; 
there is a limit to human endurance — surely that 
limit has been reached. The power that helped 
Moses to Hberate the people out of bondage will 
help the toiling millions to free them from present 
bondage capitahstic system. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 161 

CHAPTER XXVI. 



TO OUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES IN 

HEAVEN, AND OUR SOLDIER BOYS ON 

EARTH, THESE LINES ARE 

DEDICATED. 

Oh, for a constant, continual communication 
over God's telephone direct to heaven. May we 
ever hear all the bells all along the line ringing; 
clearly bearing the true and genuine messages of 
love, truth, patience, courage and hope. The elec- 
tric batteries ever properly adjusted— good serv- 
ice will be the result. Oh, that we could say "Hello, 
central," and hear the answer at the other end of 
the line, with all good connections to heaven's 
pure, happy world, say central ring my mother, 
father, baby boy or girl, brothers and sisters, with 
whom we sincerely and anxiously desire to talk, 
and ask them what their experience and full, and 
complete realities since they left us sorrowing and 
broken-hearted here. Oh, how we have missed 
them. They have been gone so long from this 
old world of sin, sickness and sorrow to that 
peaceful, happy home in the house of mansions. 
Oh grand and most glorious thought we shall 
form a happy reunion over there. Oh, for angehc 
sweet messengers to ever hover over, comfort and 
cheer us on our pilgrimage to our long sought 
home. The recording angel, God and our Savior 
will help us to ever keep sacred the memory of 
those gone before. Farewell, dear ones, for a 
short while. The red ledger lines of our Savior's 
blood will show our account all paid in full; a 
through ticket on heaven's railway. Oh, we would 



162 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

like SO much to have spiritual communication over 
God's wireless telegraphy with our soldier boys, 
keeping us ever in touch with them as to their 
whereabouts ; how they are getting along, sick or 
well, whether engaged struggling in battle on the 
bloody carnage battlefield. Oh, may God bless 
and protect them amid the m.any dangers, hard- 
ships and exposures to disease, submarines, air- 
ship bombs, all dangers on both land and sea. Oh, 
may their hearts and consciences ever be kept 
pure and at peace with God, and living or dying, 
prayers sincerely offered will, over God's spiritual 
telephone, reach heaven and God. Many earnest 
prayers offered at a throne of God's grace and 
mercy by mothers, fathers, and all relatives and 
friends that they may acquit themselves patriot- 
ically, heroically, boldly, with honors that will en- 
dure for all time and throughout the endless cycles 
of eternity. God be with you till we meet again 
and may you all retain in your hearts the sweet 
melody and prayer: "Jesus, lover of my soul, let 
me to Thy bosom fly. While the nearer waters 
round me roll; while the tempest still is high. 
Hide me, oh, my Savior hide; till the storm of 
life is past. Cover my defenseless head, with the 
shadow of Thy wing. Oh, receive my soul at last." 
Also the other old song : "Rock of Ages, cleft for 
me. Let me hide myself in Thee." Prayer 
strengthens us on our way here and we shall enter 
heaven with prayer. Prayer is ever the soul's 
delight. Oh, ever keep us faithful and true for 
the right. When this war is over and victory won 
will be our heart's delight. 

Yours and His, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 163 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



TO THE SOLDIER BOYS AND MANY RELA- 
TIVES AND FRIENDS THESE LINES 
ARE DEDICATED. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
January 3, 1918. 

When our boys go to war, as my wife is a good 
surgeon and nurse, I want her to go, too, so if any 
of the boys get wounded she will bind up the 
wounds, nurse, doctor, and care for them. The 
young are the mainstay and hope of the nation, 
and should receive special care and attention ; the 
old and afflicted can't ever amount to much any- 
way, as : Our latest sun is sinking fast, our race 
is nearly run; our strongest trials now are past, 
our triumph has begun. Oh, may God be with 
our soldier boys. May His richest blessings ever 
attend them, the Holy Spirit and ministering 
angels ever hover over, guard and protect them 
from all harm. But if they should never return, 
oh, God, infinite goodness and mercy, let them 
fully realize all is well, with the image of Jesus 
our Savior engraven on their hearts, and go home 
prepared in the house of many mansions, where 
there will be no more wars forever, but peace, love, 
joy, hallelujah rejoicing in happy reunion with 
our friends and loved ones that are watching and 
waiting our arrival home. Meet, oh meet, me 



164 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

there. Jesus lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom 
fly ; while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest 
still is high. Hide me, oh, my Savior hide, till 
the storms of life have past ; cover my defenseless 
head with the shadows of Thy wing. Oh, into 
the harbor safely guide us; oh, receive our souls 
at last. The old Ship of Zion has safely landed 
her millions, and will land millions more, on that 
peaceful, happy shore. Jesus is our captain, pilot 
and conductor; jump into the lifeboat and pull 
for the shore. The crown at the end of the journey 
is well worth all our prayerful, watchful work. 
A crown will be awarded at the end of the journey 
to the successful contestants. Look away from 
the cross to the glittering crown. Oh, may our 
soldier boys return with bright laurels of honor 
and victory on their brow and banners unfurled 
to the breeze over ocean, land and seas, proclaim- 
ing victory, victory ! Land of the free and home 
of the brave, from the bonds of slaves. Oh, may 
God hasten the day. God be with you till we meet 
again. 

Yours for a speedy reformation, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 165 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



THE COLLEGE DUDE. 

Once upon a time a hard-working, industrious, 
courageous farmer's boy decided to leave the old 
home and farm for the city and college, with high 
ideals, aspirations and ambitions to climb to the 
highest rung of the ladder and pinnacle of fame 
and learning. Of course, the good old father and 
mother and the rest of the large, poor, industrious, 
hard-working, poorly clad and fed family fully de- 
cided they would really sacrifice in his behalf, to 
satisfy his restless, longing ambition for knowl- 
edge of upward and onward progress and develop- 
ment. So having speedily prepared his home- 
made coarse, but neat, clothes a speedy departure 
was arranged, the goodbyes were said, while the 
good old father and mother and his brothers and 
sisters stood with tears in their eyes, hearts all 
torn and bleeding, earnestly wondering what his 
progress would be, and when they would meet 
again; the big-hearted, whole-souled boy wonder- 
ing, "Will they miss me when I am gone?" 

Of course, as they lived away back in the in- 
terior back woods, their general manner of travel 
was in an old-time ox wagon, on which the would- 
be college boy and driver traveled on this never- 
to-be-forgotten occasion, over rough, rocky, hilly, 
mountainous, dim roads, low mud bridges, then 
on branches and creeks. When the noon hour ar- 
rived the oxen were invariably hobbled out on the 
immensely thick, tall, nutritious grass — there be- 



166 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

ing no other kind of feed then. Cooking was done 
in the early day primitive style — frying pans, skil- 
lets, ovens and lids, and coffee pots. Seats on the 
ground amidst high grass. Best fat beef, venison, 
bear and buffalo meat^ turkey, quail, prairie chick- 
ens, squirrels and wild honey — all good enough for 
a feast for kings — were used and really enjoyed 
as we sat around our bright blazing camp fires, 
exchanging anecdotes, real experiences of the 
thrilling, daring, dangerous battles with wild In- 
dians and wild animals. Many were the incon- 
veniences and hardships endured by the first 
pioneer men and women settlers of Texas. 

After traveling on the aforesaid journey for 
three days we safely arrived at the college, which 
consisted of a house built of nicely hewed logs, 
stick and dirt chimneys, clapboard doors, wooden 
latch and hinges, split open logs for seats, in which 
were bored large holes for legs ; no backs to seats. 
Roof of house covered with split boards, held on 
with heavy weight poles (pole rafters), no glass 
windows; really some difference between the 
houses, books and furniture then and now. Big 
cowbell used to toll and loudly ring reverberating 
sounding out over mountains, valleys, glade and 
glen, calling them from labor to refreshment time 
and again, amidst all the surrounding incon- 
veniences and fully described environments. 

Boys and girls rapidly advanced and progressed 
in their studies, until, in about two years, the sub- 
ject of this sketch was far ahead of all the stu- 
dents, who were sixty in attendance, from sur- 
rounding country of two hundred miles. 

The closing days of school were rapidly ap- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 167 

proaching, when a real examination and exhibition 
was to begin. The old father and mother and all 
the children who had sacrificed, lived hard, worked 
hard, living very economically, rough, coarse diet 
and clothes, so as to enable the aforesaid dude to 
acquire a good education, graduate, and get a 
diploma, be ready, thoroughly prepared and quah- 
fied for good, practical business in this big world. 
Said family speedily and hastily arranged for the 
long, dangerous, hazardous trip, to be present on 
that great never-to-be-forgotten examination and 
exhibition. After three days of travel, camping 
out of nights, they arrived safely on the college 
grounds. They struck camp, cooked a good sump- 
tuous dinner, supper and breakfast. Then, when 
proper time arrived for examination and exhibi- 
tion to begin, the old man, woman and children 
quickly and boldly walked up to the college door, 
but were treated with indifference, scorn and con- 
tempt—not invited to come in— went boldly in 
anyhow, took seats near the door. The old man 
having been treated with such indifference, the 
son not coming to cheerfully recognize them and 
greet and welcome them on their arrival the day 
before, the old gentleman became suspicious that 
his college dude son had the big head and did not 
know his father, mother, brother and sisters. 
They fully resolved not to start back on the long 
journey without getting acquainted with the 
young gentleman .who, I assure you, was fine look- 
ing, intelhgent college dude. When the old college 
bell sounded long and loud, reverberatingly, echo- 
ing out over mountains, valleys, glade and glen, 
the boys and girls entered rapidly. Just as said 



168 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

dude, wearing fine suit, gold watch and chain, fine 
gold-headed cane and spectacles, looked at his old 
father, mother, brothers and sisters, seeming not 
to recognize them, but with scornful, disdainful, 
contemptuous look, was going to pass on, the big, 
stout, courageous father jumped and quickly 
grabbed his dude son in the collar, suddenly throw- 
ing him hard on the floor. Then the real lecture 
began in earnest ; the father vigorously laying on 
heavy licks, the children sitting heavily on him, 
even on his dude head and spectacles, while the 
old woman rapidly and heavily applied a tremen- 
dous heavy paddle — not on his head. He roared 
in agony and pain, saying loudly: "Oh, father 
and mother, brothers and sisters, please let me up. 
I will not treat you so any more. I am now thor- 
oughly acquainted with you." Of course, the col- 
lege professors and pupils interfered and helped 
stop the racket and flowing blood. The officers 
and police were called. They arrested and started 
with said family to the lock-up prison. On their 
way they met an old-time friend and schoolmate 
of the college dude's father, who out with the 
money and paid the fine of the whole family, and 
as they were released they gave the young, proud, 
haughty college dude earnest orders to get his ef- 
fects together at once, get into the ox wagon, 
which he gladly obeyed. They then, all being hap- 
pily together once more, proceeded unmolested on 
their journey home, from whence the prodigal boy 
never wandered again, but ever humble and 
obedient discharged faithfully his pleasant duties 
all through life, not waiting to be told. All of 
which proves that it is too often the case that the 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 169 

highly educated look upon manual labor as degrad- 
ing and that the educated are far superior to the 
poor laboring men, women and children, who have 
not had the opportunities of more than a very 
common, limited school education, considering 
them as inferior creatures, which was so in my 
case. The great Civil War and other lack of op- 
portunities prevented only a very limited educa- 
tion, and that obtained at the old primitive log 
cabin church and school house, built in the long 
ago 1838. Education, like money, proves either a 
blessing or a curse — often illegitimate corpora- 
tions, trusts, monopolis. Gambling exchanges are 
operated by the educated in league, conspiring to 
rob and tyrranically bind in chains of bondage the 
toiling millions of men, women and children, who 
under present educated land and currency system, 
without one ray of hope of ever owning land on 
which to build a home, sweet home. No place like 
home. Oh, let us not allow education to give us 
the big head Hke it did the college dude. 

Yours for truth, principle, justice and mercy to 
prevail here and the hereafter. 

(Signed) J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 

R. F. D. 7, Box 22, Honey Grove, Texas. 



N. B. — All the education this scribe ever learned 
out of books was learned at said log cabin school 
house or around the early day tallow candles, 
around the fireplace in our primitive, happy, pros- 
perous home. 



170 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XXIX. 



TO OUR MANY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS, 
THESE LINES ARE DEDICATED. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
February 9, 1918. 

Don't view me with a critic's eye, but pass my 
imperfections by. If I have any worth or merit, 
any good words for me let me hear them while I 
am living; too late to express them when I am 
dead for me to appreciate them. The encourage- 
ment I need is while living; while lieing still in 
death is too late for kind words of appreciation. 
Love! oh, what power, inexpressable affection is 
contained in the word Love. Far-reaching here 
and out in the great hereafter. Oh, how the world 
is hungering and thirsting for love and affection. 
If you have any good words, say them, for we 
pass this way only once ; soon we shall enter that 
bourne from whence no traveler ever returns. Oh, 
for cheerful joy and gladness to our hearts now, 
and out in the great hereafter peace and happi- 
ness forever. More flower wreaths and boquets 
while living, and not so many when dead. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 171 

CHAPTER XXX. 



CHRISTIAN UNITY. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
March 15, 1918. 

To the readers of our book, entitled "Early 
Pioneer Days in Texas," these lines are dedicated. 

"Be ye one as my Father and I are one," would 
unite all denominations in one common cause, the 
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. 
By such unity and co-operative brotherly love all 
unhealthy rivalry would cease. Instead of ex- 
travagance, seeing who can indulge in the great- 
est display, great costly churches, fine parsonages, 
big, extravagant, excessive salaries, which Christ, 
our Savior and world's Redeemer, censured and 
practically condemned. And no doubt, were He 
to come again-, enter the temple as He did, while 
here he would overthrow the tables of the money 
changers; scourge and drive them out as wolves 
in sheep's clothing. Hypocrisy, fraud, humbug, 
deception, money god worship, instead of worship- 
ing the true and living God, in unity, spirit and 
truth, has caused ours to be an idolatrous nation, 
worse than the heathenism of the darkest ages of 
the world, and will soon cause the overthrow and 
downfall of our United States as other nations, 
empires and kingdoms have gone. The sooner we 
repent and get forgiveness, as Nineveh did, the 



172 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

better, to save our government from annihilation 
before our doom is sealed and destiny unalterably- 
fixed. The white slave trade and many dark crimes 
against God will place in hell with all the other 
nations that forget God if a speedy reformation 
is not practiced. There is a cause for the darkest 
war cloud that has ever hung over the world. It 
will require all the churches of the world to unite 
and fully co-operate to overthrow the strongholds 
of the devil and his agents. 

Is the time drawing near when the Protestant 
denominations shall unite in one great church? 
It is thought by many of the wise, thoughtful 
Christian men of the present age, that the world 
is drawing nearer a universal peace, and arbitra- 
tion instead of war will settle our national diffi- 
culties in the future, and many — very many — of 
us hope that this great and wise undertaking that 
now seems to be just dawning upon us will finally 
be brought to a glorious consummation ; when na- 
tions will beat their swords into plow-shares and 
their spears into pruning hooks, and nations shall 
not lift up sword against nation ; neither shall they 
learn war any more. If the politicians and rulers 
of the nations of the earth are getting wiser and 
better, should not the leaders in the religious world 
— those that are trying to control the spiritual 
and religious destiny of the multitudes that are 
daily passing into eternity — should they not give 
up their prejudice and selfishness? During the 
ages past there has been many different creeds 
and denominations that have contended bitterly 
for the doctrines they have held to, and the Scrip- 
tures have been ransacked, not so much in search 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 173 

of truth as to find certain passages of Scripture 
to strengthen the doctrine they hold to, and their 
teachings have become pretty well known to the 
intelligent public; and looking at it from that 
standpoint, much good may have been done. But 
notwithstanding all of this knowledge, the thmk- 
ing men and women that are free from prejudice 
and not controlled by selfish motives— men and 
women that love God and their fellow men— are 
ready to say that it is character that is approved 
and acceptable to God, and not the obeying of any 
formalities or creed that shall make them accept- 
able with God; but rather a clean heart and love 
to God and their fellow man. How often is the 
word righteous and righteousness mentioned m 
the Bible ? It would be quite a task to count them. 
The secret of the Lord is with the righteous. The 
sun of righteousness, shall arise with healmg m 
his wings and yet shall go forth and grow up as 
calves of the stall. I believe the diiferent denom- 
inations are growing wiser and better and nearer 
each other, and it would be a very hard question 
to decide which denomination has the largest of 
righteous people. But there are thousands m 
every denomination that will say that it is the 
strength of righteous character that makes the 
worthy and acceptable Christian. And Christ's 
prayer was prayer that they all should be one. 
And I beUeve there are thousands in every denom- 
ination today, if this happy union could be con- 
summated, would cry out as Peter did in the pres- 
ence of Cornelius : "I perceive God is no respecter 
of persons." Mark the language: "But he that 
doeth good and worketh righteousness is accept- 



174 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

able with God." Could we ask for a better and 
more satisfactory promise than that? Our mis- 
sionary work could be carried on more satisfactor- 
ily and successfully by a united people than with 
division as it is at present. I will ask the layman 
and the preacher to put this question to them- 
selves : Who is to blame for continuing this divi- 
sion? There may be many that are afraid of los- 
ing prestige or position, and cling to their partic- 
ular doctrine as right and all others as wrong. 
When the disciple John came to Christ and told 
Him that he saw one casting out devils in thy 
name, and we forbade him because he followeth 
not with us, and Jesus said unto him: "Forbid 
him not, for he that is not against us is for us." 
(Luke 9th and 49th; Matt. 12:30.) Christ says 
He that is not with me is against me." (Mark 
9:39.) Again John complains to the Master, "We 
saw one casting out devils in Thy name and we 
forbade him because he followed not after us." 
But Jesus said: "Forbid him not, for there is 
no one which shall do a miracle in my name that 
can lightly speak evil of me, for he that is not 
against us is in on our part." It is evident that 
the views of the Apostles were much narrower 
than the teachings of Christ, and I believe the 
teachings of the leaders of our different Christian 
denominations today are like the Apostles of old 
before they were more perfectly taught, narrowed 
in their views and teachings than the gospel of 
Christ. It cannot be intelligently claimed that 
these denominations, and of them, are anti-Christ, 
but in all their teachings Christ is the central 
figure. And they worship Him as their Lord and 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 175 

Master, and the passage, Matt. 12:30, cannot be 
used in argument against these Christians. They 
are for Christ. Christ's prayer, recorded in John, 
chapter 18, 20th verse: "Neither pray I for these 
alone, but for them also which shall believe on me 
through their word . Verse 21st : "That they all 
may be one as thou, Father, art in me and I in 
thee; that they also may be one in us; that the 
world may beheve that thou hast sent me." 
Christ's great reason for oneness, that He empha- 
sized and repeats in His prayer is: "That the 
world may beheve thou hast sent me." These divi- 
sions are a great hindrance to Christ's cause. One 
of the great difficulties is agreeing on the mode 
of baptism. Let us all be baptised by the Holy 
Ghost; baptism into one body Christ Jesus, who 
has promised to never leave us ; no, never leave us 
alone. To all the readers of our book may God's 
richest blessings ever rest and abide with you, and 
when our earthly pilgrimage shall have ended 
here, oh, let us all meet in happy reunion over 
there where our friends and loved ones are watch- 
ing and awaiting our arrival home, where we shall 
ever be free from care, sorrow and pain. 
Yours and His, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



176 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



BETTER THAN BONDS OR GOLD. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

October 12, 1916. 

If only one poor little child drops a tear on my 
grave, and says there lies a friend that helped to 
keep me from starvation and rags, will pay me an 
hundred fold for money spent and sleepless mid- 
night hours writing in self-defense and protection 
of the toiling millions, men, women and children. 
Oh, what real joy, peace and conscientious satis- 
faction — words fail me to fully express in battling 
for freedom, liberty and independence from the 
tyrranical bondage slavish chains. Land owners, 
you certainly don't want to reduce the poor, help- 
less women and children to worse poverty and 
rags because many of the renters voted for road 
bond taxes. They should not be held accountable 
and responsible for the acts of those who should 
have protected and defended them. Not a voice 
or vote did they have in the election, and yet 
widows are taxed and has to protect herself the 
best she can against automobile task master bond- 
holders running their sixty-foot wide roads across 
her land and crops. Just think earnestly what a 
condition women and children would be placed in 
if land owners only furnished the land and the 
renter everything else, and pay one-half of every- 
thing produced, in self-defense and protection, 
strong, courageous men would be forced to apply 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 177 

severe |)unishment to those who thus unmercifully 
oppressed them and theirs. What can be thought 
of those who profess to teach the Bible and vote 
to place the children in bondage ; why not deliver 
them out of bondage and thus fulfill the teachings 
of the Bible. Oh, ye, deceptive hypocrites, gaging 
at a gnat and swallowing a camel. The Savior will 
come again and enter the grand high-salaried ex- 
travagant churches, overthrow the tables of the 
money changers, and drive them out. Money god 
worshipers have bound the people in slavish chains 
so that they and theirs can fare sumptuously 
every day. Better imitate Moses, one of the great- 
est characters the Bible gives any account of. His 
greatest life work was destroying the task master 
bondholders. Why don't you preachers and teach- 
ers help deliver the people out of temporal bon- 
dage in the great here, and not preach so much 
about the great hereafter ; if we do right here God 
will take care of the hereafter. 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



178 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



SOME REMINISCENCES OF EARLY PIONEER 
DAYS IN TEXAS. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

December 26, 1917. 

The protracted camp meetings held under brush 
arbors around our primitive log cabin church and 
school house of the long ago shall never be for- 
gotten. Preaching by those grand old heroes of 
the Cross, that traveled long journeys along trails 
that led across the vast rolling prairies, often 
through country infested with bloodthirsty In- 
dians, wolves, wild Spanish horses, deer, buffalo, 
etc. Those tremendous, impressive sermons, 
songs and prayers that were often heard, even 
far into the night, sounded reverently with spirit- 
ual thunder tones on the consciences of men. Their 
work still lives, and will, until time shall be no 
more, and extend out in the great hereafter, when 
there will be a grand reunion of those who will 
sing the old-time religion songs in the house of 
many mansions. There are few of those left that 
were with us then. We shall meet again in glorious 
hallelujah meetings that shall never break up; 
where goodbyes are never said, no night, no sin, 
neither tears or sad hearts over there where our 
friends and loved ones are watching and waiting 
our arrival home. Eye hath not seen, ear hath 
not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart 
of man, the joys and peace held in reservation for 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 179 

those that shall enter there. Look away from 
the cross to the glittering crown. Every dark 
cloud has its silvery lining, and beyond the bright, 
brilliant sun is shining. God be with you till we 
meet again. 

Yours and His, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



180 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. 



' Honey Grove, Texas. 
December 29, 1917. 

What has been will be again. The same causes 
that produced certain effects like causes will pro- 
duce same effects again. History repeats itself. 
We judge the future by the past. Nations, em- 
pires and kingdoms have gone down, sunk into 
oblivion, annihilation, caused by their wickedness, 
departing from God and our Savior's teaching and 
commands has brought desolation, sorrow, misery, 
woe, bloodshed, famines, pestilence, plagues, wars, 
drouths, floods, devastation by innumerable multi- 
plied millions of insects of various names, as was 
predicted and prophesied by the prophets would 
come upon the inhabitants of earth, as has come 
upon the children of men in the past for like sins, 
will come upon us of the present day and genera- 
tion. Will our own United States be exempt ? We 
shall see. Already we are realizing and experienc- 
ing trouble from some cause. What the cause and 
what the remedy? Will our nation go as others 
have gone? National sunset to rise no more on 
a free^ liberty-loving and independent people. 
What are our greatest national sins, individually 
and collectively? Do we love and worship money 
more than we do God? If so, we are idolaters, 
and worse than the heathen that worshiped images 
made of gold, silver, wood, stone, etc. Being more 
enlightened, professing Christianity, civilization, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 181 

education, are worse than the heathen, and will 
be held more responsible and accountable, and 
punished more severely here and out in the great 
hereafter. Before too late, there had better be 
true and genuine repentance, humbling in sack 
cloth and ashes. Return to God and enter at once 
upon a strict reformation, before God sentences 
us to same doom as came upon nations, empires 
and kingdoms of the past. 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



182 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

THE GREATEST GOOD TO THE GREATEST NUMBER. 



There is a limit to human endurance. There 
is a time in the course of human events that for- 
bearance ceases to be a virtue. There is a trust 
on everything except the air we breathe, the water 
we drink, and heaven, our future home ; and their 
will is good, and if it was possible, the greedy 
money-idol worshiping, selfish privileged few (at 
the expense of the many) would allow us the air 
we breathe by turning on each breath as we paid 
their price in gold, and when we failed to have the 
stuff our doom would be sealed and destiny fixed. 
Then and there the same abusive, oppressive 
authority would be used in regard to our water, 
meat and bread, if they could do so. Also they 
would take possession of Heaven, establish their 
trust bank vault, and only admit us through the 
gates into the city as we paid their extortionate 
price in gold for admission. As soon as it is pos- 
sible, they will require taxes all paid in gold and 
require a property qualification $500 or $1,000 
above a person's indebtedness before he is al- 
lowed to vote. Oh, once the greatest nation for 
truth, justice and right, under the constitution 
framed by the great Washington and all our revo- 
lutionary forefathers, whither art thou drifting 
and from whence hast thou fallen, and what will 
the final result be? The greatest good to the 
greatest number, equal rights to all, and special 
privileges to none — a government by the people 
and for the people was once practiced (both in 
precept and example) . Let us hope our nation will 
not suffer the fate of nations in the past. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 183 

CHAPTER XXXV. 



WAR CLOUDS. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
February 13, 1918. 

To all who are anxious, desiring and earnestly 
praying that the war clouds will speedily roll by, 
and a universal peace be declared, these lines are 
dedicated. 

The present war cloud is the blackest under 
which we have ever lived. God moves in a mys- 
terious way His wonders to perform, plants His 
footsteps on the sea and rides upon the storm. If 
we would have His protecting care from every 
harm, let us ever sincerely and prayerfully look 
to him amid the tempestuous, thickly gathering 
storai. To whom can we look to help us in this 
great time of need, but to Him and his Son, who 
for us did suffer and bleed, that we poor sinful 
mortals might be freed from that which we de- 
served — everlasting banishment from the peace- 
ful presence of Him who suffered the just for 
the unjust through His Son and the ever-blessed 
Holy Spirit of truth, mercy and love? From His 
side flowed the water and the blood that saves 
from wrath and makes us pure. He was wounded 
for our transgressions; by His stripes we are 
healed ; the bread and water of life is freely given ; 
whosoever will let him come, salvation is free to 



184 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

all who will accept Him; therefore, come now to 
Him if ye hear His voice ; harden not your heart, 
yield to the gentle wooings and entreaties of the 
spirit before too late. Now is the day of salvation 
to every soul. The sincere, fervent and effectual 
prayers of the righteous availeth much. There- 
fore, oh, for one united petition to God to cause 
the dark threatening war clouds to roll by and 
peace, joy and love be declared throughout the 
world, and the sun of righteousness arise with 
healing in His wings — a new sun of hope, joy and 
gladness. No more war forever. 

Yours and His, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 185 

CHAPTER XV. 

SELECTED POEMS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY 
J. TAYLOR ALLEN AND OTHERS. 



To my old schoolmates of Allen's Chapel log 
cabin school and church house of the long ago 
these lines are dedicated. 

IN THE LONG AGO. 



The old schoolhouse at Allen's Chapel, 

The place we use to go, 
When our hearts were light and our hopes were 
bright. 

Just fifty years ago. 
Our teacher, dear schoolmates, has died since then ; 

He was so good and true ; 
But his soul is gone to live with God, 

And few are left but me and you. 
They were joyous times, dear friends. 

And my memory loves to go 
To that old school house, Allen's Chapel — 

Just fifty years ago. 

The sparkling water, crystal clear. 

From the fountain head did flow ; 
A swinging, moss-covered bucket from the deep 
well below — 

From the Allen well, as it was in the long ago. 
Dear schoolmates, I well remember. 

The names of every girl and boy. 
And the games we played upon the green, 

And those we did enjoy; 
But most of them are gone, dear friends, 



186 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

A few are left to know 
That played with us at Allen's Chapel 
Just fifty years ago. 

Twas then the blue-back speller 

Was the greatest book in school, 
And we use to spell quite often 

Because it was the rule. 
We stood up in our classes 

Upon the puncheon floor, 
And spelled, and spelled, and spelled, 

Almost forever more; 
But most of them are gone, dear friends, 

But few are left we know, 
That spelled with us at the old school house 

Just fifty years ago. 

There we had the spelling match 

With a chief on either side. 
To make the best selections 

For in that they took a pride. 
And then the spelling would begin. 

And the words go around and around. 
And everybody had a chance 

To spell the others down. 
But most of them are gone, dear friends — 

A few are left we know. 
That spelled with us at the old school house 

Just fifty years ago. 

But now the time does fly, 
And the winters come and go; 

But we've been blessed by the God above 
From whom all blessings flow. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 187 

And when the march of time has passed, 

And we are called upon, 
May we meet our friends in the field of bliss 

In the unknown world beyond. 
Yes, the time is coming quickly 

When we all will have to go; 
Hoping for a grand reunion 

With those of fifty years ago. 

Yours and His God be with you till we meet again. 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



188 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

TEXAS IN THE EARLY DAYS SIXTY YEARS 
AGO. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

In the early days of Texas 

The deer and buffalo, 
In herds were found so plenty, 

No matter where we would go. 

The wily Indian, with his tomahawk, 

Had nothing then to fear. 
And he lived in peace and plenty 

On the buffalo and deer. 

These herds and flocks, they did inherit, 
And the great Father gave the land ; 

But the advancing step did echo 
Of the greedy pale face man. 

The Indians, they grew desperate, , 

And painted for the strife, 
* With their trusty bows and arrows 
And a wicked, flashing knife. 

They swore vengeance on the white man 
As their sharpened tomahawks they felt ; 

And said the scalps of many a pale face 
Should dangle from their belts. 

The whites took possession of the country. 
And killed the deer and buffalo. 

And looked upon the Indian 
As a savage, treacherous foe. 

During forty years of warfare 
With death and blood and strife, 

There has been many a scalp taken 
By the savage Indian knife. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 189 

There were many tribes to conquer, 
And they had many ways to fight ; 

They would He in ambush by day 

And attack in the dark and stormy night. 

They prowled along the Southern coast, 

Both winter, fall and spring, 
Where the mosquitoes, with their merry song. 

Had such a business ring. 

Where the hideous alligators bellowed, 
And the owls had an Indian whoop. 

Near the slimy, muddy banks 
Of the sluggish Guadaloupe. 

They would steal upon them in the night. 
And when near would give a whoop. 

With tomahawks and scalping knives 
Down on the Guadaloupe. 

The ferocious, savage, ugly, kronks, 

As fierce as any beast, 
And every white man they could catch 

They would celebrate and feast. 

The Comanches and the Wacos 

Further North and West were found. 

Where the howling wolves and rattlesnakes 
And the prairie dogs abound. 

And the tarantula and the centipede, 

And the little horned frog. 
That would make a fair collection 

Without the prairie dog. 



190 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

AN OLD SWEETHEART OF MINE. 
(James Whitcomb Riley.) 

As one who cons at evening over an album all 
alone, 

And muses on the faces of the friends that he has 
known, 

So I turn the leaves of Fancy, till in shadowy de- 
sign 

I find the smiling features of an old sweetheart 
of mine. 

The lamplight seems to glimmer with a flicker of 

surprise, . 
As I turn it low, to rest me of the dazzle in my 

eyes, 
And light my pipe in silence, save a sigh that 

seems to yoke 
Its fate with my tobacco, and to vanish with the 

smoke. 

Tis a fragrant retrospection, for the loving 

thoughts that start 
Into being are like perfumes from the blossom of 

the heart; 
And to dream the old dreams over is a luxury 

divine — 
When my truant fancies wander with that old 

sweetheart of mine. 

Though I hear, beneath my study,, like a flutter- 
ing of wings. 

The voices of my children and the mother as she 
sings. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 191 

I feel no twinge of conscience to deny me any 

theme 
When Care has cast her anchor in the harbor of a 

dream. 

In fact, to speak in earnest, I believe it adds a 
charm — 

To spice the good a trifle with a little dust of 
harm — 

For I find an extra flavor in Memory's mellow 
wine 

That makes me drink the deeper to that old sweet- 
heart of mine. 

A face of lily beauty, with a form of airy grace, 
Floats out of my tobacco as the genii from the 

vase; 
And I thrill beneath the glances of a pair of azure 

eyes 
As glowing as the summer and as tender as the 

skies. 

I can see the pink sunbonnet and the little check- 
ered dress 

She wore when first I kissed her, and she answered 
the caress 

With the written declaration that "as surely as 
the vine 

Grew round the stump," she loved me — that old 
sweetheart of mine! 

And again I feel the pressure of her slender Httle 
hand, 



192 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

As we used to talk together of the future we had 

planned ; 
When I should be a poet, and with nothing else 

to do 
But write the tender verses that she set the 

music to. 

When we should live together in a cozy little cot, 
Hid in a nest of roses, with a fairy garden spot, 
Where the vines were ever fruited, and the weath- 
er ever fine. 
And the birds were ever singing for that old sweet- 
heart of mine. 

And I should be her lover forever and a day, 
And she my faithful sweetheart till the golden 

hair was gray ; 
And we should be so happy that when either's lips 

were dumb 
They would not smile in heaven till the other's 

kiss had come. 

But — ah ! my dream is broken by a step upon the 

stair. 
And the door is softly opened and my wife is 

standing there! 
Yet with eagerness and rapture all my vision I 

resign 
To greet the living presence of that old sweetheart 

of mine. 

— James Whitcomb Riley. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 193 

PERFECTION. 



There is a chamber in my brain, 
From which I hear a song 

So sweet, so pure, I oft remain 
A listener all night long. 

I've never seen the singer's face ; 

The door I may not ope; 
Yet out and in my soul doth race, 

And bids me toil and hope. 

Enough if I do never know 
The face of her who sings ; 

If only everywhere I go 

Her song its message brings. 

Enough if now and then a light 
From out that room doth shine ; 

If only in the ways of night 
I make her vision mine. 

— John Rhuddlau in Chicago Evening Post. 



194 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



SOUTHERN SONG. 



Sunlight in the window shines; 
Blue jays calling from the pines, 
Mammy must be up betimes 
Working for her baby. 

Baby must not stay in bed 
Sun-kist clouds are overhead, 
Banks of roses blushing red 
Waiting for my baby. 

Soft the Southern breezes blow. 
Daddy's working with his hoe, 
That will make the cotton grow 
For my darling baby. 

Harvest time will soon be here. 
Drifted snow the fields appear, 
Mammy'll make a dress this year 
For her little baby. 

Blessed Southland calm and fair, 
Song and fragrance fill the air 
With enchantment everywhere 
For my precious baby. 

-Oscar Laighton in Boston Transcript. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 195 

THE PILOT^S THERE. 



The pilot's there, and the ship sails on, 

We'll weather the storm and we'll reach the dawn, 

We'll ride the waves of doubt and fear — 

The pilot's there — take cheer! take cheer! 

In the rolling trough of the keen debate, 

In the angry breath of war ; 
In the hour of greed and pride and hate. 

In the storm's contending roar; 
In the settlements of questions born 

From the issues of the hour — 
Look up to the promise of the morn, 

The pilot's at his tower ! 

We crossed the tariff sea with him. 

And the income storm blew wild, 
But he steered the good ship to her port 

As gently as a child. 
The wild, rambunctious beasts that lay 

Await in the great sea's roll 
Were brought to time — not a word to say. 

He's the captain of his ship. 

The Powers wink eyes from realm to realm. 

And the Hon and the unicorn — 
Forgetting the pilot's at the helm — 

Scent war in the distant morn. 
But the good ship sails where glory smiles 

And peace reigns round her still — 
He's taken us safe through the stormy miles, 

And he's going to take us still. 



196 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

The pilot's there, and he's calm and wise ; 
He'll sail the ship to the sunny skies ; 
We'll watch and wait, as he wants us to — 
Take cheer, for the pilot will bring us through! 

— Baltimore Sun. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 197> 

"GOLD, PRIDE, LOVE AND DEATH."— Part III. 



A week has passed, Oh weary days. 

And nights that have no end ! 
For what avails this pride of gold. 

That pity may not bend: 
Like tender vines from which support 

Too rudely's wrenched away, 
Despair deep-rooted in her soul. 

Slow saps her life away. 

The father marks the failing step, 

And hectic flush that burns. 
Sooth well his conscience from its stings, 

Nor from his purpose turns: 
Thinking, "Nay. this will pass again. 

Such grief will shallow prove," 
Ah, who can balm a wounded heart 

By giving gold for love ? 

Within the wildwoods silence deep. 

The partridge whirr is heard ; 
The gorgeous folliaged chestnut bough, 

By falling nuts is stirred ; 
The golden rod gleams on the hill, 

The aster by the brook ; 
But none of these from Clare's sad eyes, 

Can win a second look. 

Tis not the beauty of earth's scenes 

Can win of praise the best ; 
If that same gladness hath not part 

Within the human breast; 
For earth is fair when hearts are light. 



198 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

And skies shine blue above; 
For winter chills the air in vain, 
Where souls are filled with love. 

But in the quiet country side 

Soon woke a tale of woe : 
The fever plague whose strength has laid 

Full many a loved one low, 
Finds here its way with baleful breath 

Unto this valley fair; 
Until the eyes can scarcely count 

One out of households there. 

Brave Rudolph, too, the loved, and lost. 

Sore-stricken like the rest. 
Within the hospital's rude ward, 

Finds fitful fevered rest : 
There in delirium's madness tossed. 

Betrays his love, and care ; 
For through the long and weary watch, 

They hear no name but ''Clare." 

At length the news has .reached her ears. 

Nor longer can she stay 
Than time it takes for nervous feet. 

To choose the nearest way: 
They seek her wildly at the hall, 

But proves their search in vain ; 
Till weary Rudolph sleeps in peace, 

Forever freed from pain. 

But ere his dark eyes closed in death. 

The solemn words were said. 
That gave her right to linger still. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 199 

Beside his dying bed: 
Then peaceful as an infant sleeps, 

His spirit calmly passed, 
With Clare's hand within his own. 

Clasped closely till the last. 

Then wait they not in ignorance long, 

For sundry tidings drear 
Have reached her home, and parent stern, 

Who hears with rising fear. 
Lists to the end, then hurries forth 

Forgetful of his wrath: 
Ah, Arnolt, that which never turns. 

Must be a lengthy path. 

He finds his child no longer pale. 

But flushed with fever high; 
By Rudolph's lonely pallet's side. 

She speaks with tearless eye: 
"Father, your vengeance came too late, 

Death holds the chasm wide, 
But will no lengthy barrier prove 

To keep from him his bride. 

Go, cherish well thine ancient name, 

All comfort let it be; 
For it will live in thee alone. 

One dearer dies with me; 
Death has been kinder far than life. 

And on that shining shore. 
When I shall meet my love again, 

Earth's partings will be o'er." 

Hardly the stubborn pride gave way. 



200 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

The iron will to bow: 
"Oh God ! my all of wealth Vd give, 

Were he but living now!" 
Too late, Oh Arnolt! thy remorse. 

Mourn not thy peaceful dead; 
But rather blame the erring pride. 

That to such grief hath led. 

For yet another woe is thine. 

And yet another grave, 
For no amount of practiced skill. 

Fair Clare's life may save ; 
Yet still she sinks though much they strive 

Her strength is little worth; 
Soon in poor Rudolph's pallet bed, 

She sees the last of earth. 

Beneath the churchyard's solemn mound, 

Within one grave they rest ; 
White roses bloom above their heads. 

And scatter o'er their breast; 
At Clare's old home a desert look, 

Comes with the owlets call; 
And all's fast falling to decay. 

For Arnolt left the Hall. 

—Ella C. Eckeii:. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 201 

IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIENDS AND LOVED 
ONES. 

(By Taylor Allen.) 

Where are our departed friends and loved ones 

today, 
Are their angel-spirits with us or are they far 

away? 
Do their sweet angel-spirits, as swift messengers 

from above, 
Attend us day by day and point us to that God 

who is love? 
To that happy home far beyond the star-bedecked 

sky. 
Where it is our privilege to live forever with our 

Savior when we die? 
In heaven's pure world, with mother and loved 

ones gone long before. 
They are free from sorrow and care, and are 

watching and waiting on the other shore. 
Oh, may God help us to watch and pray and ap- 
preciate his love every day. 
And may true principle and the Holy Spirit keep 

us in the narrow way ; 

And may we ever have the courage of our convic- 
tions, be true for the right, 

Like Paul, David, Moses, and all the faithful, who 
fought a good fight; 

Like Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, and all the 

patriots, tried and true. 
There is a chance for every one to improve their 

talent, a work for everyone to do. 



202 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

There are times that try men and prove who are 

faithful and true, 
And though our bodies may soon be laid in the 

churchyard, old or new, 

There to await the resurrection of our bodies and 

in Him be complete, 
And go home shouting and rejoicing and walk the 

golden street. 

How often we shall meet to work our graveyard, 

God only knows, 
Who will be missing, when we meet again, or who 

will be first that goes. 

And when the final roll is called and from our 

graves we come. 
Which side will we be on, the good and pure, or 

lost and undone? 

Oh, may God, our Savior and Holy Spirit, guide 

and conduct us home 
When our work, persecutions and bereavements 

are over, we will no longer roam. 

So, kind friends and loved ones, be sincere, faith- 
ful and true ; 

Discharging your duties cheerfully, whatever you 
have to do ; 

And meet me over there, when your last battle 

with sin has been fought, 
Where we will rejoice and sing praises forever 

with the blood bought. 

—By Taylor Allen. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 203 

IN MEMORY OF "THE OLD HEWED LOG 
CABIN." 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Where are the hands today 

That hewed these logs ? They are in the clay. 

And, Oh ! could their history and secrets tell 
Of how many brave and true that in early days 
fell; 

When buffaloes and Indians in abundance were 

here, 
And deer and turkeys, squirrels and quail were as 

free as air ; 

And prairie chickens were as free as wind, 

But the bear and wolves and all game are thinned. 

Happy childhoods memory lingers still, 
And could those hewed logs leave their will 

It would be cheering and comforting still 
Of buffalo, venison, and honey bees skill. 

Good wishes expressed encourage us to press on, 
Realizing our conveniences over those who are 
gone ; 

And ever realize the inconveniences of men. 
Who hazarded their lives, their homes to defend. 

When on every side the war whoop of the Indians 

was heard; 
In those days when men were brave and true to 

their word; 



204 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

When all were more sociable, true and brave, 
Before a curse was made of money to bind us to 
slaves. 

Oh, for good, happy, prosperous times once more 
When the money was with our people as of yore ; 

No notes, securities, or mortgages required then. 
Because people were free, brave patriotic men; 

From the bonds of slaves, always free. 
Which is always best for you and me. 

—By Taylor Allen. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 205 

MY FRIEND. 



(By Mrs. Nora Farris, Levita, Coryell County, 
Texas.) 

Your letter came, but came too late, 

For heaven had claimed its own ; 

Ah, sudden change ! From prison bars unto the 

great White Throne! 
And yet I think he would have stayed. 
Could he have read those tardy words, which you 

have sent in vain. 
Why did you wait, fair lady, through so many 

weary hours ? 
Had you other lovers with you, in that silken, 

dainty bower? 
Did others bow before your charms and twme 

bright garlands there? 
And yet I ween in all that throng his spirit had 

no peer. 
I wish that you were with me now as I draw the 

sheet aside, 
To see how pure the look he wore a while before 

he died. 
Yet the sorrow that you gave him still had left 

its weary trace. 
And a meek and saintly sadness dwells upon his 

pallid face. 
"Her love," he said,, "could change for me the win- 
ter's cold to spring." 
Ah, trust of the thoughtless maiden's love. Thou 

art a bitter thing! 
For when those valley's fair in May once more 

with blooms shall wave, 



206 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

The Northern violets shall blow above his humble 

grave. 
Your dole of scanty words had been but one more 

pang to bear ; 
Tho' to the last he kissed with love this tress of 

your soft hair. 
I did not put it where he said, for when the angels 

come 
I would not have them find the sign of falsehood 

in the tomb. 
I've read the letter and I know the wiles that you 

have wrought 
To win that noble heart of his, and gained it, fear- 
ful thought! 
What lavish wealth men sometimes give for a 

trifle, light and small ! 
What manly forms are ofttimes held in folly's 

flimsy thrall. 
You shall not pity him, for now he's beyond your 

hope and fear, 
Altho' I wish that you could stand with me beside 

his bier, 
Still I forgive you, heaven knows, for mercy you'll 

have need. 
Since God his awful judgment sends on each un- 
worthy deed. 
Tonight the cold winds whistle by, as I my vigil 

keep. 
Within the prison deadhouse, where few mourners 

come to weep. 
A rude plank coffin holds him now, yet death gives 

always grace, 
And I had rather see him thus than clasped in 

your embrace. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 207 

Tonight your rooms are very gay, with wit and 

wine and song ; 
And you are smiling just as if you never did a 

wrong ! 
Your hand so fair that none would think it penned 

these words of pain; 
Your skin so white— would God your soul was half 

so free from stain! 
rd rather be this dear, dead friend than you in all 

your glee. 
For you are held in grievous bonds, while he's for- 
ever free. 
Whom serve we in this life, we serve in that which 

is to come. 
He chose his way, you yours ; let God pronounce 

the fitting doom. 

~Mrs. Nora Farris, Levita, Coryell County, 
Texas. 



208 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

TO THE POOR IN HEART. 
(By Carroll Cone, Dallas, Texas. 



Think you in this fair world of ours, 
Though you search it far and wide, 

You could find a life so happy 
That it's perfectly satisfied ? 

If you look beneath the surface, 
Deep down in the heart of life, 

You will see pale Hope and Patience 
Battling with doubt and strife. 

Often the face that is brightest 
Is acting a well-learned part ; 

Just as purple and fine linen 
Oft cover a care-worn heart. 

Do not all of us have longings, 

Wishes or hopes unfilled, 
That will wring the heart with anguish 

Till by death alone 'tis stilled? 

It may be a hope from childhood. 
Nurtured with loving care, 

Till the wisdom of mature years 
Doomed it to sad despair; 

Or something which instinct tells us 
Was made for us, sure, some day. 

Thus we go on, hoping and seeking, 
Down to the infinite day. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 209 

It may be the hope or the longing, 

Died out, or has never been, 
And our hearts ache with the longing 

And the emptiness within. 

Ah, well we have this blest comfort. 

The poor in spirit, you know. 
Received from Christ a message 

When he walked on earth below. 

The poor in heart are the sorest — 
Then this promise is yours and mine ; 

To those who are poor in spirits. 
The Kingdom of Heaven is thine. 

— By Carroll Cone, Dallas, Texas. 



210 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

THE BLUE-EYED BOY. 



My love is like a little bird 

That flies about from tree to tree ; 

And when it sees a fairy face 
It soon forgets to think of me. 

Remember well and bear in mind, 
A trusting friend is hard to find; 
But when you find one good and true, 
Change not the old one for the new. 

CHORUS. 
Go bring to me the one I love, 

Go bring my darling back to me; 
Go bring me back the blue-eyed boy. 

And Oh, how happy I would be! 

Oh, who, oh who will be my friend. 

And who shall love those little white hands. 

And who shall kiss the rosy lips 
While he is in the distant land? 

My father, he will be my friend; 

My sister shall love those little white hands, 
But none shall kiss the rosy lips 

While he is in the distant land. 

Or must I go bound while ye go free? 
Or must I love a man who doesn't love me ? 
Or must I go act the childish part 
And marry a man who will break my heart ? 

I loved him once, I love him still; 

I love him now and always will. 

His flattering words and memoring way 

Are near my heart, and there they'll stay. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 211 

To all those having mothers up yonder these 
lines are dedicated. 

WILL MY MOTHER KNOW ME THERE? 



(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
February 24, 1918. 
When I reach my home eternal. 

Reach that city bright and fair, 
When I stand among the angels. 
Will my mother know me there? 

CHORUS. 
Yes, I know she will know me 

In those mansions bright and fair ; 
Mother's love can ne'er forget me. 

And I'm sure she'll know me there. 

I've changed with changing seasons, 
I am bent with toil and care; 

Do you think she will remember — 
Will my mother know me there ? 

Oft for me my mother wrestled 
When she used to kneel in prayer ; 

Do you think she has forgotten ; 
Will my mother know me there ? 

Mother's face has been a beacon, 

O'er a sea of deep despair. 
And I will for her up yonder ; 

Will my mother know me there ? 



212 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

BE KIND TO THE DEAR ONES AT HOME. 



(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
February 24, 1918. 

Be kind to thy father, for when thou wert young, 

Who loved thee so fondly as he? 
He caught the first accents that fell from thy 
tongue 

And joined in thy innocent glee. 

Be kind to thy father, for now he is old. 

His locks intermingled with gray ; 
His footsteps are feeble, once fearless and bold; 

Thy father is passing away. 

Be kind to thy mother, for lo ! on her brow . 

May traces of sorrow be seen. 
Oh, well mayst thou cherish and comfort her now, 

For loving and kind hath she been. 

Remember, thy mother, for thee will she pray 

As long as God gives her breath. 
With accents of kindness then cheer her lone way, 

E'en to the dark valley of death. 

Be kind to thy brother, his heart will have dearth 
If the smile of thy joy be withdrawn. 

The flowers of feeling will fade at their birth 
If the dew of affection be gone. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 213 

Be kind to thy brother wherever you are ; 

The love of a brother shall be 
An ornament richer and purer by far 

Than pearls from the depth of the sea. 

Be kind to thy sister, not many know 

The depth of true sisterly love ; 
The wealth of the ocean lies fathoms below 

The surface that sparkles above. 

Be kind to thy father, once fearless and bold. 

Be kind to thy mother so near; 
Be kind to thy brother, nor show him thy heart 
cold. 

Be kind to thy sister so dear. 



214 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Let US think seriously and be prepared, for death 
which will come to all. Oh, be prepared. 

IF I SHOULD DIE TONIGHT. 

(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
February 24, 1918. 
If I should die tonight 
My friends would look upon my cold, quiet face 
Before they laid it in its final resting place. 
And think that death had left it almost fair. 
And lay snow-white flowers against my hair; 
Would soothe it down with tearful tenderness. 
And fold my hands with loving care ; 
Poor hands so empty and so cold tonight. 

If I should die tonight 
My friends would call to mind with loving thought 
Some kindly deeds my icy hands had done; 
Some gentle words the icy lips had said. 
Some errand the willing feet had sped. 
My hasty words would be all put aside, 
And I should be loved tonight. 

Oh, I pray tonight. 
Keep not your kindness for my dead, cold brow, 
The way is lonely ; let me feel it now. 
Think gently of me ; I am growing old — 
My faltering feet are pierced with many a thorn. 
Oh, hearts so cold, oh, I plead. 
When dreamless rest is mine, I will need. 
The tenderness for which I long tonight. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 215 

To my cowboy friends of my youth these hnes 
are dedicated. 

THE DYING COWBOY. 



(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
February 16, 1918. 

''Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie!" 
Those words came low and mournfully 
From the pale lips of a youth who lay 
On his dying couch at the close of the day. 

He had wasted and pined till o'er his brow 
Death's shadows were gathering thickly now; 
And he thought of his home and loved ones there, 
As the cowboys came to see him die. 

"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie," 
In a narrow grave just six by three. 
Where wild coyote and the crow sport free. 
And bury me not on the lone prairie. 

It matters not, so we've been told, 

Where the body lies, as the heart grows cold ; 

Yet grant, oh grant, this boon to me, 

And bury me not on the lone prairie. 

I always hoped to be laid, when I died, 

In the old churchyard by the green hillside ; 

By my mother's and father's bones, oh, bury me. 

And bury me not on the lone prairie. 



216 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Oh, bury me where a mother's prayer, 
Or a sister's tears might mingle there ; 
Where my friends might come and weep, 
And bury me not on the lone prairie. 

"Oh, bury me not," and his voice there failed, 
But they took no heed to the dying prayer ; 
In a narrow grave, just six by three, 
And they buried there on the lone prairie. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 217 

To mothers everywhere these Hnes are dedi- 
cated. 

MOTHER LOVE. 



(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, 
R. F. D. 7, Box 51, 
February 16, 1918. 
The eayer crowd impatient waits 
Before the jail-yard's massive gates ; 
The prisoner comes ; on either side 
Two bearded bailiffs stiffly stride. 

He mounts the scaffold ; close behind 
The bailiffs follow, and they bind 
His trembling hands in close embrace ; 
The sheriff stands with somber face. 

The cap is drawn above his eyes, 
The noose is placed about his neck ; 
Then at the sheriff's nervous beck. 
The trap is sprung ; he drops and dies. 

The body swaps awhile in space, 
The people leave the ghastly place. 
Save only one, whose piteous cries 
Must surely pierce the leaden skies. 

He was her boy ! In mortal pain. 
She gave him life. The crimson stain 
His deed has placed upon her name, 
But adds new fuel to her heart's flame. 



218 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

She loved him when his infant cry- 
She hushed to silence o nher breast ; 
Love more than that she gave the boy 
Whose daily conduct marred her joy. 

And now as dark against the sky, 
His body swings, she loved him best. 
For all the crimes that soiled his days, 
His wasted life the forfeit pays ; 
And mayhap, when the deep bells toll, 
• A mother's tears shall buy his soul. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 219 



TO MY WIFE. 
(By J. Taylor Allen.) 



It is forty years since we were wed — 

Time, like a ship upon the sea, 
With sail all spread; 

Or, as an eagle, swooping on its prey, 

So swiftly the years have passed away. 

To me it seems but yesterday. 

Yet forty years have fled ; 

Loved ones of other years. 
Are numbered with the dead. 

While we are spared with gray hair on our 
heads, 

A crown of glory, so the wise man said. 

To those who are walking heavenward. 



220 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

ONLY SAY THAT I AM FORGIVEN. 



(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Only tell me I am forgiven for hasty thoughts 

and words expressed, 
Which in an unguarded moment has often driven 

peace from our breast. 
We all have our failures and weak points which 

we ever regret — 
With trials, affections and bereavements on every 

side it seems we are beset. 

Oh, how oft have we sighed, for words spoken that 

are forever gone. 
And for which have often felt ruined, cast down 

in sorrow undone. 
Oh, that pure, happy thoughts and words may 

characterize our lives until our race is run. 
Oh, if I only knew that you entertain good will for 

me in your heart and that I am forgiven. 

It is human to err, love is divine, kind words and 

actions makes our earth a heaven. 
So let us not harbor in our breasts ill will, but by 

our actions prove we desire to make this 

earth a heaven — 
Only then, by thought, deed and act prove to me 

honest, earnest, sincerety ; only let me know 

I am forgiven. 

A guilty stricken conscience, heavily burdened 
mind, sadly bereaved broken heart in dis- 
tress ; 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 221 

Seemingly friends and character all gone, none to 
encourage, none to cheer, comfort and bless. 

When it seems that there are none to pity, none 
to sympathize and save; 

Oh, then how comforting that through true peni- 
tence, earnest, faithful prayer, we are re- 
leased from the bonds and burden of sin's 
slave. 

Angry words are lightly spoken in one rash and 

thoughtless hour, 
Brightest links are often broken by their deep, 

insidious power. 
A little word in kindness spoken, a motion, or a 

tear. 
Often heals a heart that's broken and makes a 

friend sincere. 



222 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

FROM THE ALAMO TO SAN JACINTO. 



(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

You may talk about Napoleon 

And sing of Washington and Lee, 

But they can't compare with the Texas men 
That fought for liberty. 

You may read the history of all nations 

And the brave of every land, 
But there is nothing found to equal 

Colonel Travis and his band. 

Before the storming of the Alamo 

By a dim and flickering light, 
A line was drawn by Travis 

To test them for the fight. 

Now, all that went to die like heroes 

Just stepped across this line; 
They were like a group of giants 

That were nerved to do or die. 

And they fought the hordes so desperate 
That it made the price of victory high — 

It was early in the morning when they 
Stormed the Alamo. 

But they killed them as they came, and 

Killed them on the wall. 
And with their knives and muskets 

They tried to kill them all. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 223 

One hundred and eighty-two Texans 

Against five thousand Mexicans, 
And in thirty minutes they killed and 

Wounded five hundred of the foe. 

They all fought to desperation, 

That our country might be free ; 
And Texas was baptised with blood 

In the creed of Uberty. 

Then Santa Anna was rejoicing 

And said there was nothing more to dread, 
And he gave his soldiers orders 

To burn the rebel dead. 

The funeral pyre was then enveloped 

And blazed with a lurid glow. 
As it burned the bodies of the heroes 

That fell at the Alamo. 

''Heap on fire," they shouted 

In all their fiendish glee : 
But the flame that burned the martyrs 

Was the death of tyrrany. 

Fannin, he at last surrendered. 

But it seemed all the chance was left, 

And his men were stood in solid hne 
And cruelly shot to death. 

The Texan then grew desperate. 
And they seemed in an awful pUght ; 

But the bloody hordes of Santa Anna, 
They had determined yet to fight. 



224 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

At last Houston, with his little army, 
Charged upon the bloody foe, 

And gained a glorious victory 
And avenged the Alamo. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 225 

IS THIS LIFE WORTH LIVING? 
(By J. Taylor Allen.) 



No, if all our talents and our time 

To the devil we are giving, 
Our life will be a failure 

And hardly worth the living. 

Or if this life is all and death the last, 
With no hope beyond, nor sins forgiven. 

No God to meet, no friends to greet ; 

Then this life is a blank, and not worth living. 

The poet has said : 

That life is real, life is earnest. 

And the grave is not its goal ; 
That dust to dust returneth 

Was not written of the soul. 

Shall our souls be bound to things of earth. 
Amidst sin, deceit and worldly strife, 

When there is a fountain we may reach 
That gives to us eternal life. 

Our minds and thoughts may rise above 

All cares and worldly strife, 
And on eagles' wings may soar aloft 

And taste the bliss of a higher life. 

This life on earth is worth the living 

If we improve God's given time, 
And if we obey His blessed teachings 

We can make our lives sublime. 



226 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Our souls can rise to heavenly heights, 
Above this sin-cursed world of strife, 

And work for Him who died for us, 
And live a glorious, happy life. 

Then when time on earth shall be no more. 
Our soul shall take its homeward flight. 

And gloom and fear shall be dispelled 
By a brilliant flame of heavenly light. 

The poet has described the passing from this 
world into the next in the following lines : 

What is this absorbs me quite. 
It steals my senses, shuts my sight, 
Drowns my spirit, draws my breath. 
Tell me, my soul, can this be death? 
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife, 
And let me languish into life. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 227 

TEXAS AT THE PRESENT TIME. 
(By J. Taylor Allen.) 



Texas now is a dilghtful place 

And is forging to the front, 
And there are modern towns and cities 

Where once we use to hunt. 

And our cattle are of the very best 
That is exhibited at the show, 

And nearly always take the premium 
Everywhere they go. 

And the hogs are of the very best 
That are brought upon the ground. 

And will weigh from seven hundred 
Up to a thousand pounds. 

And our horses, too, are very fine, 

And we have the best of every breed— 

The Norman and the Suffolk, 
Down to the Arab steed. 

We have free and universal education 
For the rich and all the poor ; 

And everything that's needed 
Is dehvered at our door. 

And when the weather is growing warm 

We use the electric fan. 
And we all enjoy the comfort 

Of this artificial plan. 



228 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

We ride in electric carriages, 

In company and alone, 
And talk with people miles away 

Over the telephone. 

Our women are modest, fair and beautiful, 

And all like ladies dressing neat. 
And are equal to the queens of old 
' When seen upon the street. 

And our country is rich and beautiful. 

Although it was abhorred; 
It is like a flowery kingdom 

Or the garden of the Lord. 

It has grown to a mighty nation, 

After going through the rub. 
And we have a good many commercial cities. 

And our Dallas is the hub. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 229 

LOVE AND KINDNESS. 
(By J. Taylor Allen.) 



When man was first created 

By the power of God above, 
The strongest passion He planted 

In the heart of man was love. 

The youth that loves the maiden 
Or the men that love their wives, 

When in danger or in trouble 

Will protect them with their lives. 

Kind parents love their children, 
And their battles they will fight ; 

And the children love their parents 
If the parents treat them right. 

Our hearts go out to near kin 
When in sickness, pain or sorrow ; 

But our love, when measured by God's word, 
Is weak and small and narrow. 

Men engage in strife and cruel war, 
And sink to murderous depths of sin ; 

But Christ commands to rule by love 
For all the world of man are kin. 

We love to greet the smiling face. 
And happy, loving words we crave ; 

It cheers the heart, and does more good 
Than wreath of flowers on our grave. 



230 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Bad habits grow and cling to men 

And bind them like a fetter; 
They fret and fume, and fuss around, 

When kindness would be better. 

You, parents, should be pleasant 

And kind in all your ways. 
And when your child deserves it 

Be sure and give him praise. 

The aged, with silver locks and tottering steps, 

Where once they firmly trod; 
Be kind to them in word and deed 

With love that's born of God. 

Their wrinkled face and trembling limbs. 

And aching heart does crave, 
A word of cheer and kindness now. 

Not flower upon their grave. 

Father Time is swiftly passing. 

And no stop will he allow; 
Then if you have some words of comfort. 

Be kind, dear friend, tell us now. 

I often think of Robert Burns, 

The genius and the poet. 
That almost starved in Scotland, 

And no one cared or seemed to know it. 

But now they worship at his shrine, 

And of his genius prate. 
And the kindness he deserved 

At last has come too late. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 231 

Soon the death knell of time shall sound the note 

And liberate the slave; 
Then give me words of kindness now — 

Not flowers upon my grave. 



I do not write these lines to condemn the beauti- 
ful custom of placing flowers on the graves of our 
dear departed friends, but rather to impress the 
readers to be kind to the living and throw them a 
few boquets while they live. 



232 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

OUR DEAR LITTLE BOY AND GIRL, DOCIE 
AND FRANKIE. 



Our dear little Boy and girl, Docie and Frankie 

That had come to give us joy, 
With dimpled cheeks and golden hair, 

Our bright-eyed, blue-eyed Docie and Frankie. 

They grew so fast and looked so bright. 

And acted so very smart; 
Their golden hair and tiny arms 

Were twined about our heart. 

Oh, our home was made so happy, 

And life's blessings we enjoyed 
With these priceless treasures in our hearts — 

Our bright-eyed, blue-eyed Httle girl and boy. 

The cords of love that are so strong 

Has bound their hearts to ours, 
And it was a sad and awful day 

When we did have to part. 

But the angel of death, in a pitiless flight. 

Passed over our happy home. 
And the treasures we loved was called away 

And we are left to mourn alone. 

For they are gone never to return. 

If God's judgment then is always right. 

We must put our trust in Him; 
If He takes the treasures of our hearts 

Before they know of sin. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 



233 



May heaven open wide her golden portals, 

And swing the pearly gates afar, 
And hail the coming with glad tidings. 

Our bright-eyed, blue-eyed Docie and Frankie. 

In memory of our little boy and girl these lines 
are dedicated by their papa, J. Taylor Allen. 

Oh, grand and most glorious thought, we shall 
meet again. Look out for us, we are coming where 
there will be no more dieing, no black crepe on 
the door; no grave on the hillside any more. 
Yours and His, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



234 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CABIN HOME. 

A little lonely cabin beside a lonely way — 

A little lonely cabin, deserted, quiet, and old — 
Yet memories that bless it shall never fade away, 
Although its friendly hearthstone is gray with 
dust and cold! 
For Youth and Faith have met there, and lingered 
for a space, 
And Happiness has dwelt there, and Hope has 
crossed the sill ; 
And Love has made his home there, a smile upon 
his face. 
Dear little lonely cabin, deserted now and still ! 

The forest creeps behind it, a mystic place of 
trees : 
A river flows before it, reflecting sun ana 
shower — 
And in the early springtime, the murmur of the 
breeze 
Tells secrets to the bird-folk, and the arbutus 
flower. 
A little lonely cabin beside a peaceful stream, 
A little lonely cabin, from all the world 
apart. . . . 
I see it when, at twilight, I find the time to 
dream — 
Dear little lonely cabin that holds my very 
heart ! 

— By Margaret E. Sangster. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 235 

THE PURPLE ROAD. 



There's a purple road that's leading to a country 

far away, 
There's a purple road to Somewhere that is calling 

us today ; 
Like a vagrant satin ribbon, it is winding through 

the plain — 
There's a purple road that's calling, and it may 

not call again! 
What if hills loom up before us? There's a castle 

at the top ; 
There are vivid bits of garden where a wayfarer 

may stop; 
And slim poplars cast their shadows at the noon- 
tide of the day 
On the purple road that's leading to a country far 

away. 
Will you take my hand and follow up the winding 

purple path? 
Yes, there may be rocks to stay us— we may meet 

a tempest's wrath ; 
We may shrink before pale lightning, we may 

cover under rain, 
But the road is calling, calling— and it may not 

call again ! 
We have Youth and Hope for comrades and True 

Love will be our guide, 
And we'll meet our great adventure walking proud- 
ly side by side, 
For the purple road is Romance, and it's calling 

me and you 
To a Golden Spot in Somewhere— to the Land 
where Dreams come true. 

— By Margaret E. Sangster. 



236 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

"THERE'S NOTHING TOO GOOD FOR YOU!" 



(Tribute to Our Soldier Boys by S. A. Fishbum.) 

A fond adieu, to you, brave boys, 

As you heed your country's call, 
On land, on sea, in skies above, 

God bless you, one and all. 
When this mad war shall have ended. 

And we praise the noble, the true. 
All the world will join in saying: 

"There's nothing too good for you." 

Go join this war against tyrrany, 

Go fight that the world may be free^ 
That the humblest man and nation 

Shall never be robbed of liberty. 
When this great cause shall triumph 

And freedom is born anew. 
Our beloved President will say: 

"There's nothing too good for you." 

Go fight to a world-wide truce. 

One that shall never have end. 
But bring all nations to know 

"Peace on earth, good will to men." 
When your swords are turned to plow shares. 

And the soldier's task is through. 
From heaven will come the glad refrain, 

"There's nothing too good for you." 

Boys: When you have wiped Kaiserism from 
the face of the earth — and you are going to do it 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 237 

in short order— come back and do the same for 
old King Greed at home. Come back, and by your 
ballot help bring about the reform referred to m 
these resolutions, adopted by the Dallas Land 
Limit League in 1909 : 

^'Whereas, Holding that men, in the acquire- 
ment of homes, are imbued with a greater respect 
for themselves, a keener love for their famiUes, a 
better feeling toward their fellow-man, a stronger 
faith in their government, and a deeper devotion 
to their rehgion; 

"Whereas, Believing home ownership would 
forestall anarchy and communism and strengthen 
our government as would no other remedy pro- 
posed for the dangers that threaten our repubUc; 
we pledge ourselves 

"1. To individually urge upon our fellow-citi- 
zens the importance of home ownership and seek 
to induce its constant agitation by the press, m 
the pulpit, on the platform, and through every 
other agency available. 

"2. To direct the attention of philanthropists 
to the greatest of all opportunities for helping the 
worthy poor to help themselves, viz.: Providing 
them with modest homes at reasonable prices, on 
long time and at a low rate of interest. 

"3. To urge large land owners, in their own 
interest and in the name of patriotism, to sell at 
least a part of their holdings in small tracts and 
to actual settlers only. 

"4. To advocate partial exemption from taxa- 
tion of every home, large or small, when occupied 

by the owner. 

"5. To work for a constitutional amendment 



238 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

which, while not affecting present holdings, would 
in future limit the real estate a man may acquire, 
both in town and country, which policy, we be- 
lieve, would prove a happy mean between govern- 
ment ownership and unbridled landlordism. 

"6. To seek the placing in the platform of 
every party strong demands covering the policies 
herein referred to." 

Keep this card and discuss these resolutions 
around your camp fires; better still, should you 
have time between battles, organize Land Limit 
Leagues — no matter how small the membership 
— and send us proceedings to be published at home. 
They would be precious tidings to those of us who 
want home ownership made easy, if not free, to 
the returning soldier boy and his loved ones. If 
wanted, will mail these cards to any address, any- 
where, even to your future address in Berlin. 

S. A. FISHBURN, 
President Land Limit League. 

Dallas, Texas, December 25, 1917. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 239 

GOOD FIGHT BY OLD-FASHIONED FARMER. 
(By Secretary James Wilson.) 

The old-fashioned farmer with a thin soil has, 
in most instances, fought a good fight. He strug- 
gled to educate the young people, whose education 
led them away from the farm, and left him to 
struggle alone. Everything taught them had a 
tendency to turn their eyes toward anything but 
agriculture for a career. The developing mdus- 
tries— the factory, the railroad, the forest, and the 
mine— coaxed the boys away with big pay. The 
nation was offering farms of new land for noth- 
ing. It gave its mines for the opening and its 
forests for the cutting, and it protected the fac- 
tory of every kind, enabling these industries to 
outbid the farmer when he wanted help. The 
State encouraged the railway, and its schools fur- 
nished forth the youth of the land for every voca- 
tion but agriculture. The boys and girls went 
away, leaving the father and mother with gray 
hairs, on the old acres. The unproductive farm 
of today, in its primitive strength, educated boys 
and girls who have helped to build up the West 
and Southwest into great States, and have helped 
to build up the industries of the East. 



240 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF THE OLD-TIME 
ROAD. 

(By Taylor Allen, Feb. 21, 1896.) 

Many feet along this road have trod 
That have gone from sight and under the sod. 
And oh! how often in childhood's happy glee 
Have we walked and run cheerful and free. 

Where are those who were with us then ? 
Many have passed away from the walks of men. 
No more do we meet them, from our sight they 

have gone, 
When shall we meet them, when will our work be 

done? 

Many who bid fair for long life are now gone, 
And I, always a weakling, feel left alone. 
My schoolmates and early friends, nearly all gone. 
And are realizing and experiencing the great be- 
yond. 

Let us keep in the true road, the narrow way 
That leads to the home beyond, to a more perfect 

day. 
And when we are all done traveling that road 
May we be secure forever in heaven's happy abode. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 241 

THE DESERT PATH. 

(By Margaret E. Sangster.) 

The camel tracks led whitely across the desert 

sand, 
And one came riding after with furtive mystery ; 
Ah, one came swiftly riding, a dagger in his hand, 
And he was bent on plunder— a nomad thief was 

hel 
He did not heed the starshine that glimmered 

from on high. 
For laden beasts had traveled along the lonely 

way. 
He did not see the glory that swept the Eastern 

sky. 
For he had far to journey before the dawn of day. 

He followed through the desert, and then at last 

he saw 
An inn upon the outskirts of some small village 

place ; 
And there were camels resting before the stable 

door — 
He left his horse, crept nearer, with greed upon 

his face ; 
And peering o'er the threshold, he saw that gold 

was piled. 
With precious stones and incense, before a little 

Child. 

n. 

A thief he was by calling, who to the stable came, 
A thief whose youthful fingers had learned to steal 

their fill ; 
A thief he was who valued his heritage of shame, 



242 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Yet, standing by that doorway, he did not want to 

kill! 
A thief he was, but — watching — he saw a Baby 

face, 
And, bending near, a Mother, whose joy was unde- 

filed; 
And for one breathless moment across the stable 

space, 
The Baby's eyes gazed at him — and then the Baby 

smiled ! 

A thief he was by calling, but there beside the 

door 
He saw a Holy Vision — he knelt and tried to 

pray— 
And something, thrilling, whispered of love for- 

evermore — 
And then he rose, half-weeping — and it was 

Christmas Day! 
A thief he was by calling, who felt the Father's 

plan, 
But back across the desert there silent rode a 

man! 

III. 

The years are met as mile stones upon a winding 

road, 
And some slip by like shadows, and some are fair 

with flowers; 
And some seem dreary, hopeless — a leaden chain 

of hours — 
And some are like a heart-throb, and some a heavy 

load. 
The thief, a thief no longer, a lonely figure strode 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 243 

Haert-weary down life's pathway, through tem- 
pests and through showers, 

But always prayed that somewhere, among sweet- 
scented bowers, 

A Baby's smile might show him where happiness 
abode. 

For he was often hungry — a thief, reformed, must 

eat — 
And there were folk who shunned him, and turned 

his plea away; 
And there were those who scourged him from out 

the market place — 
They were the ones who told him to earn his bread 

and meat ! 
Yet ever he walked onward, and dreamed of some 

fair day 
When he would find the Christ-Child with love 

upon His face ! 

IV. 
Where work lay for the asking it seemed that men 

might work, 
But prejudice was rampant in every shop and 

field; 
And, ''What if you are trying, my scythe you may 

not wield!" 
Men told the thief, who answered — "Indeed, I will 

not shirk!" 
And carpenters and builders turned from him with 

a smirk. 
And farmers hurried by him to house the harvest's 

yield. 
And so he took his dagger, all rusted, and his 

shield. 



244 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

And sought again the highway where thieves and 

jackals lurk. 
And yet the spark of manhood still flamed within 

his heart, 
And still he saw the Baby, beyond the stable door; 
And oftentimes at even, as crimson daytime died. 
He knelt, a sorry figures, from all of life apart. 
And, "Oh, if I could see Him— and feel His love 

once more, 
"If I could see Him smiling, I would not steal!" 

he cried. 



It was a glowing ruby that caused the thief to fall. 
But — he was very hungry, and lonely, too, and 

cold ; 
And youth lay all behind him, a tattered funeral 

pall. 
For he was very tired, and he was growing old. 
It was a glowing ruby that law upon the breast 
Of one who had not earned it, who wore it with a 

sneer ; 
The thief was very weary, he only longed for rest ; 
He was too wan for caring, he was too numb for 

fear! 
It was a glowing ruby — he held it in his hand — 
His hand was thin and withered, it shook beneath 

the gem ; 
He took the vivid ruby, the ransom of a land. 
And tied it firmly, tightly, within his garment's 

hem; 
And then he shuffled forward, but like a thorn 

within 
His soul he bore the torment of bitterness and sin ! 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 245 

VI. 

They caught him when the morning had tinged 

the Eastern skies ; 
The gem was found upon him, as red as guilty 

blood; 
He stood, his head sunk forward, with listless, 

shallow eyes. 
And hoplessness submerged him like some unholy 

flood ; ^, , 

A thief he was by calling. The Law? The law 

was great ; 
What chance had he for pity ? His fate was sealed 

and done ; 
He was unclean, an outcast, a menace to the state; 
Athing to be avoided, a stain against the sun! 

They led him to his hearing, the hall was still and 

A judge was seated higher, who passed him with 
p o'lfiTice * 

And suddenly, forgetting his weariness and fright, 

The thief cried, leaping forward, "I did not have 
a chance !" 

The judgment hall was spacious, and coldly white 
and wide — 

And coldly came the sentence— "He shall be cruci- 
fied!" 

vn. 

They nailed him, God^s creation, upon a cross of 

shame; 
They nailed him up with laughter, they heeded 

not his tears ; 
And people looking at him were moved to soulless 

jeers. 



246 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

And agony was on him — a searing, breathless 

flame! 
And then, as he hung sobbing, a sudden feeling 

came 
Of peace that, reaching toward him across the 

sound of sneers. 
Was like a burst of music that one more feels than 

hears — 
For, from somewhere beside him, a Voice had 

breathed his name. 

Ah, he was weak with anguish, and yet he turned 
his head. 

And saw a cross beside him, and on the cross a 
Form ; 

And he forgot the tumult, the horror and the 
storm — 

And someone, down below him, said "Look, the 
thief is dead!" 

But, safe from fear and torture beyond their 
scornful cries, 

The thief had gazed at Heaven in Christ's trium- 
phant eyes ! 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 247 

DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIENDS 
AND LOVED ONES. 

The cold December rain is falling where they lie, 
Soon the same last and final debt will be paid by 
you and I. 

They hved as we live, amid labors, disappoint- 
ment, persecutions and trials. 

Many were their inconveniences, temptations, sac- 
rifices and self-denials. 

Through faith, courage, hope, earnest, honest la- 
bor they triumphantly entered in 

Through the gates into the city where they are 
ever at peace, joy and rest free from sin. 

Watching and waiting with our friends and loved 
ones in that beautiful home so fair, 

When our labors, joys and sorrows are ended meet, 
oh ! meet me there. 

TAYLOR ALLEN. 



248 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN, TEXAS 

. PARADISE LOST. 
(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

Man from original righteousness has wandered 
away, 

And is ever seeking happiness as he journeys day 
by day. 

The violation of God's law has caused him sorrow 
and distress 

Which caused our Savior and Mediator from 
heaven to come to bless. 

Man's inhumanity to man has made countless mil- 
lions mourn, 

Pressed by labor and cares on every side during 
this pilgrimage and sojourn. 

What he has lost in the fall can only be atoned by 
the blood of our Mediator 

Through his merits alone can we ever be rein- 
stated in favor with our Creator. 

Driven out from the peaceful presence of God 
without one ray of hope, through millions of 
years, 

No chance to redeem himself without the interven- 
tion of Christ though he repents in anguish 
and tears. 

Lost, wretched and undone, no paradise will it ever 
be our privilege to view, 

Unless we repent, have faith, prove by our sincere 
faithful earnest work that to our Savior we 
are true. 

Oh ! why do we live and why do we die ? 

All who can, please tell me why. 

Like as a flower or the grass, we are cut down, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 249 

Wither, die and pass away, we trust to receive a 

crown. 
In heaven's pure world where our friends and 

loved ones are safely home. 
From whence no traveler ever returns, we will 

soon no longer roam. 
Like the prodigal from our Father's house far, far 

away. 
But let us ever come home, and no longer from 

the fold stray. 
By way of the cross we shall wear a glittering 

crown. 
Where the injustice of man will no more keep us 

down. 
Man's inhumanity to man makes countless millions 

mourn. 
But the time is coming when the greedy grafters 

of their power will be shorn. 
Let us place our spiritual deposits in heaven's own 

bank vaults — 
Where no checks are protested, and where all are 

free from faults. 
No bank failures there, God the President, our 

Savior the Cashier — 
Who will represent us, introduce and for us make 

all things clear. 
The recording angels the bookkeepers with 

Christ's own precious 
Blood the books of life are ever kept balanced and 

square. 
Oh! meet me there. 



250 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

MOTHER. 

(Written by J. Taylor Allen.) 

Honey Grove, Texas, R. F. D. 7, Box 22. 

January 26, 1914. 

Oh ! a mother's prayer, a mother's tears have fol- 
lowed me all the past years ; 

What sweet memories of dear mother who ever 
lovingly quieted my fears. 

Long years she has been gone; but her sweet 
spirit beckons me on, 

Day by day as pilgrims here, on a journey our race 
will soon be done. 

Oh ! what sweet, happy memories of the long ago 

in childhood's happy days. 
With our loving associates, playmates around the 

dear old home. 
And around the hewed log cabin school and church 

house grounds 
Where oh ! echo answers where are those boys and 

girls echo still resounds. 

We are safe at home awaiting your coming where 

will be 
Reunited in heaven's pure happy peaceful world we 

will ever be free. 
Seems long, long years since last we met but 

happy thoughts linger yet 
As we rapidly pass life's milestones our friends 

and loved ones we shall never forget. 

As we rapidly glide down life's river oh! let us 
every ply the oars of faith and love, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 251 

For the splashes of the oars of the pilot are heard 

on life's river to take us to our home above. 
So let us all get on board the old Ship of Zion that 

has safely landed 
Its millions on the heavenly shore with none left 

stranded. 
Our Saviour, our pilot and conductor, we soon 

will be with over there. 
Through faith in Jesus, truth and love, we shall 

enter heaven with prayer. 



252 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

CAPITAL AND LABOR. 



Will you and readers indulge me in a poetic flight? 
Though adverse winds may blow, 
Trials, troubles and afflictions as we go 
Through this world we cannot stand still, 
Let us be up and doing with a determined will. 

With energy, patience and perseverance our motto 
Stronger and stronger we will grow, 
Though trampled beneath mud or dust 
We will rise in the strength of the just. 
Though we possess not great wealth, 
Let us covet that which is better — religion and 
health. 

A clear conscience before men and God, 

So that when our bodies are beneath the sod 

A monument to our memory erected 

Will be encouragement to the dejected; 

To press forward through difficulties thick and 

thin. 
Knowing at the close of this life a better will 

begin. 

I care not for envy, I care not for scorne ; 
True principle will tell when in us it is born. 
Truth and true merit though crushed to earth 
Will rise again enjoying a new birth. 
Amid the conflict now over silver and gold 
Times will be better for labor, we are told. 

If silver for our forefathers was good 
Who in the revolution spilled their blood, 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 253 

Why not still a good honest dollar? 
Why all this confusion, why whoop and holler? 
Why depreciate that which is good and pure, 
Which the rise and downfall of nations did en- 
dure? 

We fear the end will not justify the means 
To overthrow our best interests to me, it seems 
Like bowing to old England's dictate and com- 
mand — 
They have the money and soon will have our land. 
A tight grasp on our land and money already they 

have got. 
And in the wind-up. Oh ! as pretended free people 
what will be our lot? 

What old England with sword, bayonet and bullet 

in the Revolution 
Failed to accomplish with their force of arms and 

cunning evolution. 
Are evolving our great American institutions to 

their own liking. 
As American freemen let us be up and doing for 

there is danger of striking. 

Labor cannot, will not to dishonest legislation al- 
ways submit; 

All we want is justice to all, if we do not get it the 
laborer will quit. 

Looking and trusting for relief and oh ! what then ? 

Are there no true, patriotic, unbought, genuine 
men? • 



254 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

Who look more to their country's good than to the 
mammon gold, 

Will we forsake our own and to other nations be 
sold? 

Our revolutionary fathers who in their graves are 
sleeping, 

If they could rise and see our demoralized condi- 
tion would be weeping; 

And say our hardships endured and blood spilled, 
will it all be in vain? 

Let not our fair record with unfaithfulness of 

sons be stained. 
Oh ! then let us in our might arise and shake off 

old England's yoke 
And look up to the true source and comfort and 

blessings invoke. 
And never, no never submit to old England's ty- 

ranical yoke. 

Oh ! yes, the money of Washington and Jefferson 

is good enough for me. 
Through the people we yet hope and trust we will 

gain the victory. 
All who hold different views on this great struggle 

from me, 
I trust will no dishonest intentions for our best 

interests in me see. 

For as an American freeman I claim a right to 

my plea. 
For after much study and investigation I cannot 

help but see 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 255 

The scarcer the money the lower the price agricul- 
tural products will be. 

Now appreciated editor and kind friends, if I have 

crossed swords with you, 
I trust you will not conclude I am unfaithful and 

untrue ; 
And if you do not serve me too rough for endeav- 
oring to explain, 
Perhaps sometime in the future I will come again. 
Yours truly, 
1 TAYLOR ALLEN. 



256 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

MELANCHOLY DAYS. 

The melancholy days have come, the saddest of 

the year, 
When howling winds and naked woods and all is 

brown and sear. 
Such is life with its varied changes of patient labor 

of love, 
As the seasons come and go, we still work and 

trust the true source above. 

Though unappreciated, amid life's struggles, and 
temptations we may be, 

There is a better time coming when our spirits 
from this earthly home will be free 

To drink in the water of life, and heavenly pleas- 
ure, awaiting you and me. 

Oh, for right appreciation, aspirations and inspir- 
ations along the way. 

For with energy, patience and perseverance, we 
will see a more perfect day 

Than we now can comprehend, or conceive, is wait- 
ing for you and me. 

Through him who purchased our redemption we 
will gain the victory. 

Over all earthly foes, troubles, afflictions, tempta- 
tions, persecutions here 

Will never enter into or mar our pleasures and 
happiness over there; 

Whatever our faults, and failures and disappoint- 
ments here have been. 

When we are safely anchored within the vale, we 
will be free from sin. 

So with patience, let us press upward and on- 
ward, content with our lot. 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 257 

Ever realizing that true merit in accomplishing 
best purposes is never forgot. 

So as we glide down life's river let us ply the oars 
of faith and works ever true, 

Learn to labor and wait and by and by we will re- 
ceive our reward as quietly as dew ; 

In each life dark clouds and shadows disappoint- 
ment and sorrowful, 

Reminding us that nothing is perfect but all is 
vanity on this terrestial ball. 

Look up, despondent one, let us ever realize that 
to each dark cloud there is a silver lining 

Which consoles, comforts and cheers us, when life 
is declining. 

Amid the sharp competition, confusion and strug- 
gles of this life 

We should acquit ourselves nobly and well amid 
the strife; 

Full many a beautiful flower, both fragrant and 
fair. 

Blushing and unseen wastes its perfume on the 
desert air. 

Full many a gem, humble, rough, obscure, and 
low 

Is trod upon unheeded and unappreciated, by 
friend and foe; 

Kind, patient editor and readers, if this the waste- 
basket does escape. 

Perhaps sometime in the near future I will come 
in a different shape. 

Yours truly, 

TAYLOR ALLEN. 



258 EARLY PIONEER DAYS I^J TEXAS 

MILK BRIGADE. 
(Written by J. Taylor Allen.) 

Come all ye members of the buttermilk brigade, 
let us see 

Who practice what they preach and on all points 
fully agree; 

It is very easy to tell the other fellow what and 
what not to do, 

But do we always prove patient, courageous, faith- 
ful and true? 

Do we drink anything stronger than that whicli 

we recommend, 
And will we prove patient, faithful, tried and true 

to the end? 
Of our terrestial journey ever using that which 

no trouble will bring. 
But ever refreshing, invigorating, nourishing, 

which is the thing? 

I assure you if we drink the unadulterated we will 

have no fines to pay, 
But grow stronger, more vigorous and healthy 

every day. 
No wrecked and ruined homes from its use, but 

peace and joy. 
In upward and onward progress and development 

our minds employ. 

Oh, yes! rally around our banner, ever unfurled 

to the breeze. 
Over our homes, around the world, across oceans, 

mountains, seas ; 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 259 

Proclaiming victory, victory, land of the free and 

home of the brave, 
Ever free from intoxicating liquors and the bonds 

of slaves. 

Oh, yes! the pure, unadulterated ale of father 
Adam and buttermilk is best; 

Give me same all along life's journey and you 
may have the rest. 

And when our pilgrim journey here is triumphant- 
ly o'er 

May God, our Supreme Grand Ruler of the Uni- 
verse, admit us to the other shore, 

Where our friends and loved ones in that perpet- 
ual home meet, 

Where the tree of life around the rivers of life are 
ever blooming we will walk the golden streets ; 

Ever be free from sin, temptation, care, sorrow, 
bereavement or pain. 

In that beautiful, happy home let us all form a 
happy reunion again. 



260 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

To all who are for truth, mercy and justice, and 
peace, love and good will, these lines are dedicated. 

IRELAND. 



When I think of dear old Ireland 

My heart is sore distressed; 
Her noble sons in poverty 

And by England so oppressed. 
When in olden time the English 

To heathen gods were turning. 
Old Ireland was a Christian land 

And the seat of piety and learning. 
Her missionaries were sent out 
And went from place to place, 
And preached the gospel to the people. 

Of the Anglo-Saxon race. 

Wallace was betrayed and suffered a horrible 
death at London. His head was cut off and placed 
on a pole on London bridge; his right arm dis- 
played at Newcastle ; his left arm at Berwick ; one 
leg was sent to Perth, the other to the town of 
Aberdeen ; the other parts of the body were 
burned. 

The disciples of Columbia and St. Patrick, 

From Java's hill did start. 
To the heathen shores of Briton 

Their knowledge to impart. 

Saint Patrick and twelve of his disciples visit- 
ed the Pagan King of Java, dressed in white robes 
and they carried crosses, and made such an im- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 261 

pression on the King and his ministers that the 
King granted them permission to preach the gos- 
pel and later Columbia and his disciples crossed 
over to Scotland and they founded in Scotland, 
England and Germany one hundred and sixty-four 
monasteries. 

There were hundreds of monasteries, 

And churches many and many a score. 
That were founded by these noblemen 

On England's heathen shore. 
There were schools and colleges then in Ireland, 

And some of them were free. 
That drew their students from England and 
from Scotland 

And some from Germany. 
But the Danes and Scandinavians 

Did invade old Erin's shore 
With murder and destruction 

For two hundred years or more. 
But Erin's sons did ne'er give up, 

Although much precious blood was spilled. 
But they fought and fought and fought again 

Until every Dane was killed. 
But old Ireland then was crippled, 

And her wealth was all destroyed, 
And she was deprived of many blessings 

That she had so long enjoyed. 

This is a bit of practical experience and testi- 
mony of my father's and mother's people in Ire- 
land and Scotland who bore the tremendous ty- 
ranical bondage, yoke of persecution and oppres- 
sion by old England's money lords. After they 



262 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

had secured all the gold, they required taxes to 
be paid in gold; their property was put up and 
sold for taxes which placed all property and money 
in possession of the privileged few at the real sac- 
rifice of the toiling millions of men, women and 
children. My father's and mother's people fought 
them that had thus tyranically robbed them, but 
old England's armies crushed the poor laboring 
people unmercifully ; robbed and treated them with 
scorn and contempt, requiring heavy rents and 
taxes to be paid on the land of which they were 
robbed. After many of my mother's people were 
burned at the stake in the hills of Scotland, and 
father's people were persecuted in indescribable 
ways, all that could worked their way on vessels 
across the ocean and settled in America with the 
then few colonists and the many wild Indians and 
wild animals. They preferred to risk the dangers, 
hardships and inconveniences than among those 
unmerciful tyrants over there. They followed our 
early pioneers and eight long years under the 
great Washington we struggled and fought the 
British ; gained our freedom, liberty and indepen- 
dence. The Constitution was sealed by the blood 
of our patriotic heroes and handed to us to ever 
guard, protect and defend. Will we, their pos- 
terity, allow that unparalleled of all documents 
to perish from the earth and be supplanted by 
the money god image worshipers to ever rule and 
hold in subjugation and bondage our once free 
and independent American people? Our Wash- 
ington, Jackson and Jeffersonian governments 
were the most prosperous and patriotic that ever 
inhabited the earth. But oh! alas! On account 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 263 

of wickedness, money gods and idolatrous wor- 
shipers of the material, perishable things, which 
are all vanity and vexatious of spirit, and perish 
with their using, will our people be driven from 
the true, real, genuine love of God with all our 
heart, soul, mind and strength and let the enemy 
of souls wreck us individually as a nation, that 
will go as other nations, empires and kingdoms 
have gone, sunk to rise no more forever ? History 
repeats itself. We judge of the future by the 
past; coming events cast their shadows before. 
The same causes that produced serious effects in 
the past will cause ruinous effects and sad disas- 
ter in the future. 



264 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

EDUCATION. 
(By J. Taylor Allen.) 

To Truth and principle that shall live forever 
these lines are dedicated. By J. Taylor Allen, 
Honey Grove, Texas, Jan. 11, 1918, R. D. 7, Box 51. 

Education when used as a blessing is grand, 
sublime, noble, elevating inspiration, aspiration 
upward and onward, progress and development 
higher and higher to heaven and God. But in com- 
parison see what the Bible teaches has come and 
what will still come upon the educated that abuse 
their talents and education as a curse rather than 
a blessing. The Savior did not call the educated 
when He chose the twelve apostles as His follow- 
ers for true and mightiest work, the greatest and 
best that ever was or ever will be in this world. He 
called unlearned and ignorant men as regards the 
education and learning, the Holy Ghost from 
but He gave them the mighty truth, true wisdom, 
education and learning, the Hholy Ghost from 
above, which has proved the mightiest and great- 
est educational power ever possessed by mortal or 
immortal beings of the terrestial, also the celestial 
inhabitants here and out in the great hereafter. 
Peace on earth and good will to all men. The 
Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man 
as taught by our Savior and World's Redeemer if 
fully practiced and as the great majority popular 
vote would have no war, but h^ve peace by arbi- 
tration, settle disputes, thereby saving a world 
being bathed in blood, woe and misery indescriba- 
ble unprecedented and unparalleled just to gratify 
the ambitious educated military dictators that ex- 
ercise more arbitrary power than ever was exer- 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 265 

cised by any king or monarch that ever ruled the 
world. 

What became of the highly educated of Egypt, 
including King Pharaoh that was educated in all 
the wisdom and learning this world afforded? King 
Pharaoh offered Moses second place in the royal 
family and his kingdom, but he chose rather to 
suffer the afflictions of the people of God than en- 
joy the pleasures of earth for a season. Moses 
had respect of the recompense and reward of the 
future joy and peace held in reservation for all 
the people of God out in the great hereafter in the 
house of many mansions. I prefer the principle 
of truth, love and mercy that will Hve in true 
happiness forever. Give me the education that 
reaches far out over and above the material trans- 
itory education of those who make their money 
their God that cannot deUver them in a dying, try- 
ing hour. With all our boasted Christianity civili- 
zation and education, are we going to abuse and 
make a curse of our boasted claims ? Will our na- 
tion go as other nations, empires and kingdoms 
have gone— sink into annihilation to rise no more 
forever — all on account of the educated rich con- 
temptuously and scornfully boasting that they are 
superior creatures and the uneducated being in- 
ferior creatures little above the brue creatures, fit 
for nothing but to work and be excessively taxed 
to keep the privileged big rulers in extravagance 
and luxury. The great Paul was educated, but he 
used it to bless and make peace and happiness 
among all people of every nationality and tongue 
that will live forever. Oh, may God help us to 
practice true and saving education. Yours for 
speedy reformation before too late forever. 



266 EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 

To pur friends and loved ones in heaven, and 
our fellow voyagers on the way these lines are 
dedicated. 

This life will have been a failure if we fail to 
safely make the peaceful, happy landing in heav- 
en's harbor and glorious shore of immortality 
where the glorified spirits dwell. Oh ! for the far 
away home where angels dwell. All the pure and 
good will be there; no more death, temptations, 
sm, sickness, sorrow, orphans will be there; no 
graves on the hillsides or valleys over there; no 
black crepe on the door. Sweet messengers of 
peace and love dwell in that home of many man- 
sions; no wars or sad heartaches over boys bid- 
ding farewell and hastening away perhaps never 
to return. Oh, war! most destructive, most hor- 
rible war! When will the terrible conflict end and 
the dove of peace bearing the olive branch of 
peace and love hover and brood over our homes 
with one common cause of universal contest to 
see who can and will live nearest to God ? 

What will it profit a man to gain the whole 
world and lose his soul, or what will he give in 
exchange for his soul? How can we estimate the 
worth of one body and soul, if the mortal body and 
the immortal soul were placed in the balance on 
one side and all the black lands, gold, silver, gov- 
ernment paper currency and bonds in the balance 
on the other side, which would outweigh? Oh' 
man that was made in the likeness and iinage of 
God, a little lower than the angels ! oh, how the 
mighty have fallen away, wandered like the prodi- 
gal son, spent their substance in riotous living 



EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS 267 

following the dictates of the devil, searing the 
conscience in evil doing and receiving their just 
reward for having sown to the flesh and the wind 
and are reaping the whirlwind and corruption! 
Oh ! why not resolve in our hearts that we will the 
balance of the time God permits us to hve, to live 
for God and sow to the spirit and of the spirit; 
reap life everlasting! God seeketh such to wor- 
ship Him as worship Him in spirit and in truth 
and constantly follow Him. That is the way — the 
truth and the life. Oh, yes, jump into the life- 
boat and with the faithful tried oars of faithful 
works, pull for the shore and not sink to rise no 
more. A speedy reformation is needed, a practi- 
cal demonstration of the old-time religion ; get on 
board the old ship of Zion that has safely landed 
her millions on the other shore and will land in 
heaven's harbor, millions more, by ever having 
our Saviour as our captain, pilot and conductor. 
We will land safely in the house of many mansions 
where our friends and loved ones are ever watch- 
ing and waiting our arrival home, where we shall 
be free from care, sorrow and pain. Our mothers, 
our Savior and all faithful tried and true loved 
ones and sincere friends will be there. God be 
with you till we meet again. 

Yours and His, 

J. TAYLOR ALLEN. 



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